D.C. agencies and residents in the Petworth community gathered July 27 for an afternoon of food, fun, and entertainment called “Beat the Streets.” The event was part of a community outreach effort by the D.C. government to strengthen relationships and assist poor residents in Ward 4.District agencies present at the “Beat the Streets” event included the Metro Transit Police Department, University of the District of Columbia, Drug Free Youth.com, MedStar Family Choice, and the Department of Employment Services, among others. “This is really nice, they really need to do more of this,” said Terry W., 60, a longtime resident of Petworth who said that gentrification has increased costs so much that he can no longer afford to live in the area.“The gentrification has made it more difficult,” said Carolyn Smith, clinical director of the Georgia Avenue Family Support Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that serves families in Ward 4 with children under the age of 18. “We work with the homeless families that come from D.C. General. It has been virtually impossible to find affordable housing for those families in Ward 4 now. We used to work with landlords that helped us and kept their rents reasonable, now most have sold their properties, torn them down, and made condos out of them.”Despite the hardships gentrification has caused on the area’s residents, the event enabled them to relax and enjoy go-go beats and R&B music. “We’re just here to enjoy ourselves and have fun,” said Nicole Stewart, manager of the girls dance group Eesha’s World from New Jersey. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years now and I love D.C. I think getting together with the police is lovely because they get to see the other side. They’re protecting us and we feel safe, I’ve never had any problems with the police.”Police Lt. A.W. Washington was in charge of the event. “We sponsor street activities in the community and bring different resources in one location and encourage people to interact with their neighbors and the police officers, meet city officials, and come out and take advantage of the city agencies that are here,” Washington told the AFRO.Washington credits the police department’s partnership with the community as the reason for low crime in the area. “The crime in this area has been significantly been reduced,” he said. “Our partnership with the community has been outstanding, and because of that we have been able to reduce crime by double digits. The last violent crime was about three or four months ago.”According to the police crime data, as of Aug. 2, the immediate area had two incidents of violent crime and 17 incidents of property crime, mostly theft, in 2016.
Beat the Streets Aims to Strengthen Community Relations in Ward 4Beat the Streets Aims to Strengthen Community Relations in Ward 4
September 1, 2019September 1, 2019
By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — A rare bipartisan deal in Congress to overhaul federal sentencing laws passed after a few Black ministers, leaders and lawmakers forged an alliance with President Donald Trump, who some have condemned as racist for the last two years.The reforms could offer a path to freedom for hundreds of Black and Latino inmates who were sent to prison by a justice system that critics say has long been stacked against minorities.Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., left, joins Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, left, in an Instagram Live post before they participate in a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, on prison reform legislation. A criminal justice bill passed in the Senate gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and boosts prisoner rehabilitation efforts. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)“It’s like threading a needle politically,” said Marc Morial, the National Urban League’s president and CEO. “It’s been very delicate to get us to the point where we are right now.”Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland, still gets questions from fellow African-Americans asking him why he and other conservative Black ministers went to the White House over the summer to talk about the issue with Trump.“People are still mad at us about that,” Jackson said.But the end result could be worth it to address what Jackson called “the defining civil rights issue of this era,” even as detractors complain that the legislation did not go far enough and could invite new problems for minority communities.The bill, which is expected to go to Trump soon for his signature, gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and expands prisoner rehabilitation efforts. It also reduces the life sentence for some drug offenders with three convictions, or “three strikes,” to 25 years.Another provision would allow about 2,600 federal prisoners sentenced for crack cocaine offenses before August 2010 the opportunity to petition for a reduced penalty.That will be a win for minorities who were caught up in a sentencing system that made crack cocaine a more serious offense than other types of cocaine, said New Jersey Sen. CoryBooker, a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2020.“When you correct an injustice in a biased system, it dramatically helps the marginalized people,” Booker said. “That provision alone, 96 percent of the people who are helped by that, are Black or Latino.”Among the advocates of the legislation was a diverse and unlikely group that included presidential adviser Jared Kushner, Kim Kardashian West, the National Urban League, Black ministers and minority lawmakers and libertarian-leaning conservatives.Some of the bill’s advocates say it was a tough decision to work with a White House that is deeply unpopular with Black people. More than 8 in 10 African-Americans said they thought Trump was racist in a February poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.But even the supporters say they know this legislation is only the beginning, as reflected by its name, the First Step Act.Groups such as the NAACP cheered the passage of the bill but also harbored reservations.The legislation “offers some important improvements to the current federal criminal justice system, but it falls short of providing the meaningful change that is required to make the system genuinely fair,” said Hilary O. Shelton, director of the NAACP’s Washington bureau.The bill only affects the federal system, meaning anyone given harsh sentences at the state and local level will have no recourse. Those inmates make up the bulk of people behind bars across America.Blacks constitute 38 percent — or about 68,000 — of the more than 180,000 inmates in the federal prison population, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Hispanics make up 32 percent — or about 58,000 — of federal prison inmates, with about 122,000 non-Hispanics in federal prison.Some groups say the bill will open the door to increased surveillance of minority communities through electronic monitoring of released inmates. Others point out limitations in the bill on which federal prisoners will benefit from its changes.The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 Black-led organizations, called the legislation “custom-made for rich white men.”“All of the carve-outs make the vast majority of our people ineligible for the benefits of the bill,” the group said.Even with the limits, the bill’s advocates are thrilled to have made progress on an issue where reform has remained elusive for more than a decade. Jackson said any president willing to talk about even minor changes should be worked with.“I believe with all my heart, if Dr. Martin Luther King was alive, he would have been in that meeting,” Jackson said. “And he would have been advocating for the voiceless instead of playing politics and personality games.”___Jesse J. Holland covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press in Washington. Contact him at jholland@ap.org, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jessejholland or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jessejholland .
Louisville won its sixth straight and 10th in the last 12 games as the Cardinals prevailed 82-54 at Wake Forest on Wednesday. Jordan Nwora scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Dwayne Sutton produced his fifth career double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. UofL limited the Demon Deacons to 26.5 percent shooting from the field. Live Stats Louisville, ranked 15th by AP and 16th in the USA Today poll, opens the month of February with its lone home game in a four game stretch as the Cardinals face No. 9/10 North Carolina in the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday. The Cardinals are very balanced on the offensive end, with five players averaging over eight points. Sophomore Jordan Nwora leads the Cardinals in in scoring and rebounding with 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Dwayne Sutton ranks second on the team in scoring with 10.2 points along with 6.9 rebounds per game. Christen Cunningham is third on the team in scoring with 10.2 points and leads the team with 87 assists on the year. Steven Enoch averages 9.7 points per game along with 5.3 rebounds per game while Malik Williams is averaging 8.1 points and pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game. GAME 22Date: Feb. 2, 2019Time: 2:00 p.m.Site: KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court, Louisville, Ky. (22,000) (143-22 in 9th year)Television: ESPN – Mike Couzens, play-by-play; Chris Spatola, analyst.Radio: WKRD (790 AM) Paul Rogers, play-by-play; Bob Valvano, analyst (Sirus channel 78, XM 210, Internet 965)Series History: Louisville trails 6-13 (4-1 in Louisville, 1-3 in Chapel Hill, 1-9 neutral)Last Meeting: UofL 83, North Carolina 62 (Jan. 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, N.C.)UL National Ranking: 15th Associated Press, 16th USA TodayOfficials: Ted Valentine, Bert Smith, Earl WaltonNext UofL Game: Feb. 4 at Virginia Tech, Blacksburgh, Va., 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) Story Links North Carolina is fifth in the nation in rebounding margin (+9.9), is second in assists per game (19.8) and third in scoring offense (87.6 ppg). Six Tar Heel players are averaging over eight points a game, led by Cameron Johnson (15.8 ppg). UNC is No. 5 in the Sagarin Ratings, No. 7 in ESPN’s College BasketballPower Index (BPI), No. 9 in the NET rankings and No. 7 by Ken Pomeroy through Jan. 30. Louisville Game Notes North Carolina Game Notes North Carolina (16-4, 6-1 ACC) has won eight of its last nine games, including winning 77-54 at Georgia Tech in its last game on Jan. 29 as Cameron Johnson scored 22 points and gathered three steals and Coby White totaled 19 points and eight assists. Louisville trails 6-13 in its series against North Carolina, but the Cardinals have won three of the last six matchups. Louisville handed the Tar Heels their only ACC loss of season in winning 83-62 in Chapel Hill, N.C. earlier this year (1-12-19) as Dwayne Sutton totaled 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Steven Enoch and Jordan Nwora each scored 17 points as well. Four meetings have come in the NCAA Tournament, including twice in regional finals. Louisville’s current six-game win streak is its longest conference win streak in the Cardinals’ five years in the ACC and longest since winning seven straight league games in 2013-14. UofL’s 7-1 ACC record is its best ACC start. Louisville has a 46-12 record in its conference home games over the last six years (.793). UofL has the fourth-most conference home wins in its five years in the ACC with a 31-9 ACC home record. Jordan Nwora is the second-most improved scorer in the nation with his 18.2 scoring average up 12.5 ppg from his 5.7 average last year. He led UofL with 20 points at Wake Forest, his 10th game this season with 20 or more points. Dwayne Sutton has had double-doubles in four of the last seven games, including his last game at Wake Forest with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. He has scored in double digits in nine of the last 12 games. Steven Enoch produced his second career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds two games ago vs. Pitt. UofL is 9-2 when Enoch scores in double figures. He is averaging 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and shot 60 percent from the field over the last seven games. Louisville has allowed less than 55 points in three of its last four games. Wake Forest became the ninth opponent Louisville has held under 40 percent shooting on the year and 55th over the last four years. Louisville is 24th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency by Kenpom. UofL has scored 80 or more points in 13 of its 21 games (79.6 ppg) and the Cardinals are 14th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency by Kenpom. UofL is second in the ACC in scoring offense for conference games (81.1 ppg).Print Friendly Version CARD FILES
Popular on Variety Matt Trotta is jumping from one buzz to another: The former BuzzFeed senior VP of agency strategy has joined interactive-content startup Playbuzz as GM of North America.In the role, Trotta will oversee U.S. sales, business development and operations for New York-based Playbuzz, whose investors include Disney. The company’s offerings include interactive branded-content solutions for marketers and engagement-based solutions for publishers.Prior to joining BuzzFeed in 2011, Trotta spent four years at Federated Media, most recently as director of East Coast sales, and before that worked at Turner Broadcasting in different digital research and sales roles.Playbuzz’s marketing clients include Netflix, Unilever, Universal and Brita. The company distributes branded content across a network of tens of thousands of publishers, which include ESPN, CBS, Time and Turner, and its publishing partners also use the Playbuzz platform to create visual-first, data-driven editorial content. ×Actors Reveal Their Favorite Disney PrincessesSeveral actors, like Daisy Ridley, Awkwafina, Jeff Goldblum and Gina Rodriguez, reveal their favorite Disney princesses. Rapunzel, Mulan, Ariel,Tiana, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine all got some love from the Disney stars.More VideosVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard Shortcutsplay/pauseincrease volumedecrease volumeseek forwardsseek backwardstoggle captionstoggle fullscreenmute/unmuteseek to %SPACE↑↓→←cfm0-9Next UpJennifer Lopez Shares How She Became a Mogul04:350.5x1x1.25×1.5x2xLive00:0002:1502:15
“We are excited to have Matt on board, bringing his passion for storytelling and ability to identify future market trends and key industry pain points, to our U.S. partners,” Tom Pachys, co-founder and COO of Playbuzz, said in announcing Trotta’s hire.Trotta commented, “As GM of North America, I look forward to building upon the existing solutions to ensure the industry understands the value of interactive, data-driven stories that users are compelled to engage with rather than avoid.”According to a Nielsen study in April 2018 commissioned by the company, Playbuzz-powered branded stories attracted an average brand lift of 91% and found that its solutions also achieved a 29-fold lift in perception and seven-fold lift in intent to purchase than the global norm.Playbuzz was founded in 2012 by Pachys and Shaul Olmert. The company has raised $66 million in funding to date, including a $35 milion round of strategic funding led by Viola Group with participation from existing investors Saban Ventures, Disney, 83North, Carmel Ventures and Firstime. In January 2018, Playbuzz named Rob Norman, former global chief digital officer at GroupM, to its board of directors.
Popular on Variety $4.93M – Night School Top Movie Commercials by Weekly TV SpendData provided by iSpot.tv Impressions: 323,632,313Attention Score: 91.36Attention Index: 86National Airings: 820Networks: 22Most Spend On: NBC, E!Creative Versions: 20Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $10.49MStudio: LionsgateStarted Airing: 08/06/18 $5.38M – White Boy Rick TV ad placements for Universal Pictures’ “Night School” (EMV: $4.93 million), Lionsgate’s “A Simple Favor” ($4.58 million) and Warner Bros. Animation’s “Smallfoot” ($4.43 million) round out the chart. Impressions: 386,566,153Attention Score: 92.68Attention Index: 101National Airings: 1,523Networks: 34Most Spend On: FOX, NBCCreative Versions: 20Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $14.28MStudio: Twentieth Century FoxStarted Airing: 06/08/18 $4.43M – Smallfoot Impressions: 228,651,141Attention Score: 90.99Attention Index: 82National Airings: 483Networks: 27Most Spend On: NBC, CBSCreative Versions: 10Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $6.57MStudio: Universal PicturesStarted Airing: 06/05/18
Impressions: 384,549,227Attention Score: 92.11Attention Index: 94National Airings: 673Networks: 35Most Spend On: NBC, FOXCreative Versions: 17Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $12.52MStudio: Columbia PicturesStarted Airing: 06/06/18 In this week’s edition of the Variety Movie Commercial Tracker, powered by the TV advertising attention analytics company iSpot.tv, Twentieth Century Fox claims the top spot in spending with “The Predator.”Ads placed for the sci-fi thriller had an estimated media value of $6.55 million through Sunday for 1,523 national ad airings on 34 networks. (Spend figures are based on estimates generated from Sept. 3-9. Estimates may be updated after the chart is posted as new information becomes available.) Universal prioritized spend across networks including Fox, NBC and CBS Sports, and during programs such as NFL Football, College Football and Rel. Just behind “The Predator” in second place: Columbia Pictures’ “White Boy Rick,” which saw 673 national ad airings across 35 networks, with an estimated media value of $5.38 million. 1 Movie titles with a minimum spend of $100,000 for airings detected between 09/03/2018 and 09/09/2018.* TV Impressions – Total TV ad impressions delivered for the brand or spot.* Attention Score – Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.* Attention Index – Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs the average. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.Variety has partnered with iSpot.tv, the real-time TV ad measurement company with attention analytics from more than eight million smart TVs, to bring you this weekly look at what studios are spending to market their movies on TV. Learn more about the iSpot.tv platform and methodology. Impressions: 217,531,495Attention Score: 92.65Attention Index: 101National Airings: 534Networks: 44Most Spend On: FOX, CBSCreative Versions: 10Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $8.58MStudio: Warner Bros. AnimationStarted Airing: 03/24/18 $6.55M – The Predator $4.58M – A Simple Favor ×Actors Reveal Their Favorite Disney PrincessesSeveral actors, like Daisy Ridley, Awkwafina, Jeff Goldblum and Gina Rodriguez, reveal their favorite Disney princesses. Rapunzel, Mulan, Ariel,Tiana, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine all got some love from the Disney stars.More VideosVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard Shortcutsplay/pauseincrease volumedecrease volumeseek forwardsseek backwardstoggle captionstoggle fullscreenmute/unmuteseek to %SPACE↑↓→←cfm0-9Next UpJennifer Lopez Shares How She Became a Mogul04:350.5x1x1.25×1.5x2xLive00:0002:1502:15
Warning: Downloading “Game of Thrones” on illegal piracy networks could potentially open the door for cybercriminals to hijack your computer.Piggybacking on pirated content is a tactic long employed by the internet’s underworld. But hackers are increasingly are turning to pirated episodes of popular TV shows as a vehicle to deliver malicious software, according to new research released Sept. 26 from antivirus vendor Kapersky Lab and U.K.-based website BestVPN.com.Malicious executable files can easily be binded with or disguised as video files. With such surreptitiously planted malware, a user only needs to launch the video file for their computer to become infected, the researchers noted.HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is the top TV show worldwide hackers have turned to for distributing embedded malicious code, according to the study. Over the last 12 months, more than 170,000 infection attempts were detected from illegal downloads of “Game of Thrones” episodes affecting about 50,000 users, Kapersky and BestVPN.com found. Popular on Variety The next most popular show for hackers was AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” with around 100,000 infection attempts detected on nearly 20,000 computers around the world. Researchers found far fewer malware attacks for other TV shows: Pirated copies of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” resulted in 13,257 attack notifications affecting 4,600 users; HBO’s “Westworld” episodes had 5,300 infection attempts on 2,063 computers; and Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” pirated copies showed 3,348 attempted attacks on 1,334 PCs.The fact that hackers are huge fans of “Game of Thrones” for delivering malware payloads isn’t surprising: The HBO epic fantasy series, based on the novels of George R.R. Martin, historically has been the No. 1 pirated television show worldwide.
×Actors Reveal Their Favorite Disney PrincessesSeveral actors, like Daisy Ridley, Awkwafina, Jeff Goldblum and Gina Rodriguez, reveal their favorite Disney princesses. Rapunzel, Mulan, Ariel,Tiana, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine all got some love from the Disney stars.More VideosVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard Shortcutsplay/pauseincrease volumedecrease volumeseek forwardsseek backwardstoggle captionstoggle fullscreenmute/unmuteseek to %SPACE↑↓→←cfm0-9Next UpJennifer Lopez Shares How She Became a Mogul04:350.5x1x1.25×1.5x2xLive00:0002:1502:15
Stay on target Can’t stop posting video from this – Alien needs to go to Broadway NOW! (But only with HS kids) https://t.co/Q5hIhFlOtN— Paul Scheer (@paulscheer) March 23, 2019 Bizarre Interstellar Object ‘Oumuamua Is Not an Alien SpacecraftReebok Releases 40th Anniversary ‘Alien’ Stomper Sneaker We are impressed! 40 years and still going strong… https://t.co/NJGJIZj2oq— Alien (@AlienAnthology) March 23, 2019Alien might have hit the big screen 40 years ago, but this next-level stage adaptation shows how the movie still has a memorable impact on fans today.More on Geek.com:Poisonous Gas Could Be a Sign of Alien Life, Study SaysWatch: A Giant, Alien-Looking ‘Ice Disk’ Is Floating Down a Maine River Barnard’s Star Hosts Icy Planet With Potential for Alien Life Alien is back in the spotlight, thanks to a New Jersey high school that performed a full-length stage adaptation of Ridley Scott’s eerie sci-fi flick.Led by Perfecto Cuervo, an English teacher at North Bergen High School, NBHS Drama Club students went all out for the cool production, which was held on March 19 and March 22, Gizmodo reported. According to audience members, the actors portrayed the suspenseful, creepy moments of the original Alien film with a touch of humor.The play’s trailer is hilarious: The students look very “serious” in what looks like a spaceship setting. Plus, the horror-meets-retro soundtrack shows a comedic perspective on Alien, which spooked out audiences decades ago.AdChoices广告The offbeat production didn’t go unnoticed though: Entertainment Weekly noted that the play went viral after Adam Savage, a Mythbusters alum, discovered the play and wrote, “OMFSM I need to see this,” on Twitter.OMFSM i need to see this. Wow https://t.co/96E872XUTp— Adam Savage (@donttrythis) March 23, 2019Other people also praised the quirky play on Twitter, and noted how the play’s props were “made out of recycled materials” and how “it needs to go to Broadway.” Plus, Alien’s Twitter page praised the play and shared some pictures of the futuristic set in a Twitter post.I love that north bergen high school did alien last night as their school play, so I’m gonna keep tweeting about how great it is..everything was made from recycled materials .. so nuts amazing I’m so proud of my hometown pic.twitter.com/EEMEbankDz— Andrew Fernandez (@bhsdrew) March 23, 2019
‘Avengers: Endgame’ Director Explains Thanos’ Faceoff With Captain America‘Marvels’ Expands Marvel’s Podcast Universe Stay on target Marvel is going Freeform. Or rather, to Freeform with Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger and its found its two leads.The company announced Monday that Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph will be playing Tandy Bowen (Dagger) and Tyrone Johnson (Cloak) respectively.Holt is best known for her work on the Disney Channel and Disney XD in shows like Kickin’ It and I Didn’t Do It. Joseph, a relative newcomer, recently starred in The Night Of.“Marvel is delighted to have found our Cloak and Dagger,” Jeph Loeb, head of Marvel Television said in a press release. “Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph encompass the true essence of the characters, and we are excited for the audience to see them in these roles.”For the uninitiated, Cloak and Dagger are a Marvel superhero duo that encompasses the abilities of light and dark. Cloak can become intangible and can transport himself and others through a dark dimension. Dagger can create pointed projectiles of light and can also use that light for healing.The two are known as runaways who met when they were teenagers and developed a strong bond before they even gained their powers, so the light and dark metaphor covers a lot of ground. Depending on which comic you’re talking about, they either got their powers from an experimental drug, or they had them all along, or it was a demon.Cloak and Dagger (2010) #1 Courtesy MarvelThe official synopsis for the show will keep the bulk of this origin, specifically when it comes to the characters’ back stories and personalities. Tandy once came from a privileged family but ran away after a storm destroyed her life. Tyrone is described as somebody who “wanted nothing more than to prove he was fearless. But when everything he held close was taken away, life taught Tyrone to be afraid.”“The characters of Tandy and Tyrone have always stood out to me ever since I first met them in the pages of Marvel comics when I was a boy,” said showrunner Joe Pokaski. “When Olivia and Aubrey read for the roles, these characters leapt off the page. We’re so excited to see what these talented young actors bring to the Marvel Universe.”The Cloak & Dagger series has been moving slowly since it was greenlit last April. Although, according to Deadline, the idea for a Cloak and Dagger show has been in the works for five years. Since then, there’s been little news from the production.
Earlier this year, there were rumours that Bioshock Infinite’s multiplayer modes had been cancelled, now Ken Levine has confirmed that is indeed the case. He announced there would be no multiplayer when a fan asked about it on Twitter.Bioshock 2 was the first in the series to have a multiplayer mode and although there were many different game types, it mostly saw you as a splicer, killing and competing against other splicers. It got a luke-warm reception and obviously, Levine must have decided it wouldn’t work in Infinite.Some gamers may worry about a lack of multiplayer as it often adds to the longetivity of a game, but it’s likely that most will be relieved as bad multiplayer can also detract from a title. It also means Irrational Games‘ attention is not diverted away from the all important single-player experience and main story. Bioshock Infinite looks like an emotional, story-driven game, and fans will be playing it for the single player experience.In Infinite, you play a Pinkerton agent called Booker DeWitt and you’re on a rescue mission to save a woman called Elizabeth who’s been imprisoned since she was a child. It looks very different from the previous Bioshock games, which were dark and creepy. In comparison, it’s a very bright and colorful looking game.The first Bioshock proved multiplayer wasn’t needed to make a successful game, Infinite is better off without it. Infinite plans to launch worldwide on February 26 next year. Let’s hope it can still make that release date.via GC
Hardcore gamers may not be fans of Microsof’s decision to only partially focus on game quality in promoting the Xbox One, but this latest advertisement featuring Zachary Quinto hits with the precision of a Vulcan nerve pinch.There’s been a series of missteps in introducing Microsoft’s next-gen console, but the overall message was never one of them. The idea of an “everything” console linking together the devices housed in your entertainment center is a powerful message to send. If Microsoft can convince users to put the Xbox One in their living room, in between the cable box and the TV, they will be able to do what no one else is doing on the TV right now.Microsoft’s “Invitation” promo is everything it needs to be. The idea that the Xbox One is not simply sitting there waiting for you to turn it on, but actively pulling you back in front of the TV, is unique because Microsoft can actually deliver on that experience.The ability to Skype with your friends right after something interesting happens on TV, or the option to just curl up on the couch and ask for a movie to start playing has the potential to be a huge deal for more than just gamers.Most importantly, Microsoft made sure to also focus on the right games for their demographic. Titanfall, FIFA 14, and of course Dead Rising 3 all get not-so-subtle references during the video. It all comes together to accurately focus on the strengths of the Xbox One, and as long as Microsoft can actually deliver this experience it will make a huge difference in the life of the console.
In a spectacular demonstration of both the capabilities of the Kinect and the ease with which you can take advantage of your fellow gamers in the heat of the moment, one user changed his Xbox One gamertag to the amusement of all.When sitting in the comfort of your living room enjoying a couple of rounds of your online game of choice, it is more than a little common to shout the username of someone in the same game as you. One user decided to take advantage of the situation by changing his gamertag to “Xbox Sign Out” to see what would happen.According to the user, a lot of people accidentally signed themselves out and removed themselves from the game. In order for this to happen, you have to not only accidentally tell your Xbox One to sign out, but you’d have to accidentally follow that up with a button press to confirm it. Those who didn’t sign themselves out managed to put on quite a show, one that is well worth a look.It seems unlikely that Microsoft will allow these kinds of gamertags to exist after today, but you can’t help but laugh and admire how effective this troll really is. There’s so many different voice commands for the Xbox One now that this joke could be adjusted several times over and still be funny.It’s the kind of thing that is hard to pay attention to in the heat of the moment, but is way too funny even if it happens to you.
Remember AIBO, Sony’s adorable little robodog? Boston Dynamics has their own robotic family pet now, and it has a claw for a head.To be fair, when SpotMini’s claw is “parked” it looks a bit like like a small, slackjawed dog’s face. It’s also not just claw-shaped to add an element of futuristic creepiness. SpotMini is incredibly dextrous with that appendage and can use it to perform many of the same tasks that you can with your hands.Tasks like picking up a pop can and dropping it in the blue bin or moving a rinsed glass from the the sink into the dishwasher. SpotMini isn’t solely focused on mundane domestic chores, however. This a robotic dog, after all, and Boston Dynamics had made sure that it knows how to enjoy playtime with its humans, too.Beverage delivery with a side order of doggish playfulnessThink of SpotMini as a BigDog or AlphaDog for your home. A brutishly-strong ‘bot that can lug around several hundred pounds doesn’t really make sense, but one that’s been scaled down and given a helping hand seems like a good fit. He can also gyrate like a champ, which is sure to liven up any party:Boston Dynamics says SpotMini weighs just 55 pounds “dripping wet,” and right now it can last for about 90 minutes before needing a recharge. Those sound pretty close the specs of my 7-year-old charcoal lab, and I’m guess it’s a heck of a lot cheaper to feed SpotMini.Also no poop to scoop. I think I found my next canine companion.
Stay on target To most people, the terms of service that pop up when they hop on free Wifi is nothing more than a speedbump. An annoyance that stands between them and the latest cat videos or /r/mildlyinteresting submissions.That’s precisely why public Wifi and analytics provider Purple decided to have a little fun with their TOS recently. They made a minor tweak, one that they were confident would go unnoticed by the vast majority of connectivity seekers who utilized Purple’s service.According to Purple, 22,000 people agreed to perform 1,000 hours of community service at the company’s discretion. Fortunate folks would have been giving hugs to cats and dogs. Others who weren’t quite so lucky could be tasked with picking up dog poo or scraping gum off sidewalks. Those who drew the short straw might have to clean the porta-johns at a local festival or clear sewer blockages by hand.Purple doesn’t actually plan to enforce the clause, of course. “We aren’t going to round up these individuals and ask them to don their rubber gloves and repay the community debt,” reads their blog post. It was mostly done in fun, but Purple wanted to prove a point, too: that people blindly click past terms of service and they really ought to take an interest.Especially in this case. Apart from telling its users what Purple plans to do with the data it gathers, they also missed the chance to take home a nice little prize. They left their prank terms up for a full two weeks, and only one person spotted it.Let us know what you like about Geek by taking our survey. China Preps 5G Coverage For World’s Longest Sea BridgeT-Mobile Thanks U.S. Military With New Wireless Plan 
Waymo’s self-driving service is officially open to the public.Early riders from the company’s Phoenix-based trial get first dibs, before the program, dubbed Waymo One, rolls out to more people and places.The fleet of self-driving vehicles—available 24 hours a day, seven days a week—currently operates across several Metro Phoenix areas, including Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, and Gilbert.AdChoices广告“Whether it’s for a fun night out or just to get a break from driving, our riders get the same clean vehicles every time and our Waymo driver with over 10 million miles of experience on public roads,” according to a blog announcement.Users can simply download the application (which doesn’t appear in my searches of the iTunes and Google Play stores), then get started by confirming your pickup and drop-off locations. Accept by pressing the “Request Ride” button.Up to three adults and a child can ride at once.As the novelty of self-driving transportation has yet to wear off (and likely won’t for another decade), most first-timers have a lot of questions and concerns about their autonomous commute.So Waymo put support front and center with in-car consoles and screens, as well as the mobile app.“Self-driving technology is new to many, so we’re proceeding carefully with te comfort and convenience of our riders in mind,” Waymo CEO John Krafcik said in a separate blog post.Initially, trained drivers will supervise all Waymo One vehicles for users’ comfort and convenience. Eventually, the firm will transition to fully driverless rides.“We’re never done learning,” Krafcik said, announcing an extension of the early rider program, in which select participants will continue testing new features.“There’s a long journey ahead,” he added. “But we believe that Waymo One will make the roads safer and easier for everyone to navigate.”More coverage on Geek.com:Waymo, GM Lead Self-Driving Car RacePeople Prefer Driverless Cars Hit Animals, the ElderlyNHTSA Curbs Autonomous School Bus Plans in Florida Researchers Teach Autonomous Cars to Predict Pedestrian MovementAutonomous Bar Will Drive Up And Mix You Drinks Stay on target
Boy do I hate printers. They’re clunky yet fragile. They require screwing around with messy expensive ink. They get paper jams. Wirelessly syncing them up is a nightmare. The list goes on. Being able to print things on demand is super convenient, but actually owning and maintaining a printer constantly makes me question if it’s worth it.The HP Sprocket 2nd Edition won’t fully replace all your printer needs. But just giving you a fun and easy way to print photos on the go is already doing the lord’s work.AdChoices广告The HP Sprocket 2 looks more like the phone you pair it to than the printer it actually is. The small size makes it cute and easy to travel with, but should also give an idea of the size of the photos (2.3 by 3.4 inches) it can print. It also comes in a variety of sparkly metallic colors.You connect your phone, iOS or Android, to the Sprocket via Bluetooth and send pictures via an app. In the app you can also customize photos with text or stickers before printing them. The paper costs have gone down but image quality has gone up. The most nifty features of all though are the various augmented reality gimmicks.You can scan the printer itself to get a status update. That’s why its top is so sparkly, like a QR code constellation. However, you can also scan photos to watch little videos associated with them. Instead of using ink, the HP Sprocket heats up special paper in different patterns to reveal specific colors. This fascinating process can also embed AR information into the photos. A portable printer already feels cutting-edge but this is just from the future.For more on the HP Sprocket 2nd Edition check out the extensive review on our sister site PCMag.com. For more on cool printers check out this mobile thermal printer and bedside bioprinter.More on Geek.com: Geek Pick: Philips Hue Play Light Bar Lights Up Your MediaGeek Pick: Nokia 7.1 Is an Excellent, Affordable Android PhoneGeek Pick: Flir One Pro Is a Hot Thermal Camera Geek Pick: Ikea Sonos Symfonisk Is A WiFi Bookshelf SpeakerGeek Pick: Fi Smart Dog Collar Sniffs Out Your Pet 
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