caption “Avengers: Infinity War.” source Marvel The 2018 domestic box office currently stands at $11.38 billion, according to Box Office Mojo. That passes 2016’s $11.38 billion to be the biggest yearly North American total in ticket sales ever. Big blockbusters like “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” can take credit, along with surprises like “A Star Is Born” and “A Quiet Place.” After a year where it seemed like almost every big release met or beat expecations at the domestic box office (sorry, “Solo”), Hollywood studio executives are reaping the rewards this week with news that 2018 set a new record in ticket sales. The North American box office grossed $11.38 billion this year, passing the previous all-time record of $11.38 billion in 2016, according to figures listed on Box Office Mojo. This was largely due to the performance by Disney titles. … [Read more...] about 2018 North American box office hits an all-time high and it could go as high as $11.8 billion by the end of the year
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The American Civil Liberties Union is suing 11 federal agencies for ‘ethical hacking’
Why it matters: After 11 federal agencies, including the FBI, ICE and the Drug Enforcement Administration failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request, ACLU decided to take it a step further and sue them for breaching democratic practices. The two main issues the ACLU hopes to bring to light are the number of bystanders whose information caught in the crossfire, and the lack of oversight these agencies have. ‘Ethical hacking’ or so it’s called, when cybercriminals get taken down by hackers. No one is complaining when the FBI go ruthlessly on terrorists or drug lords, but the ACLU isn’t wrong when they say “it’s impossible for the public to meaningfully determine whether and when the government should engage in hacking.” The American public has very little insight into the hacking federal agencies do. What we do know has come from a variety of leaks and court documents. For example, last month Motherboard obtained documents that … [Read more...] about The American Civil Liberties Union is suing 11 federal agencies for ‘ethical hacking’
10 Things We Learned About the First Americans in 2018
Several 15,500-year-old stone spearheads may be the oldest weapons on record in North America. These up to 4-inch-long (10 centimeters) spears are so old they may even predate the Clovis people, who were long thought to be the first group to populate the Americas. But some archaeologists are skeptical of the techniques used to date the spearheads, which were found near Austin, Texas. Because there was no organic matter near the spearheads to use for radiocarbon dating, the scientists used optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), which shows how long ago quartz grains in the sediment were exposed to sunlight. That's not the gold-standard technique typically used to date such artifacts, however, experts previously told Live Science. [ Read more about what may be the oldest North American weapons ] … [Read more...] about 10 Things We Learned About the First Americans in 2018
I drove a $50,000 Ford Mustang GT and a $52,000 Chevy Camaro SS in a battle of all-American muscle cars — and the winner was clear
caption Can the Camaro beat out the ‘Stang? source Matthew DeBord/BI The Ford Mustang GT and the Chevy Camaro SS are two of the USA’s most famous muscle cars, but both icons have been updated for the modern world. I drove both and was impressed with the staying power of their old-school V8 engines – but also the new technologies that Chevy and Ford have deployed. Ultimately, I preferred the wilder Mustang GT, but the Chevy Camaro SS might be easier for some drivers to live with day-to-day. Muscle cars are often characterized as uncompromising, given that these all-American machines are designed to serve up serious speed in a straight line. But the truth is that for much of their multi-decade reign on the roads of the USA, that speed has been crude. Loud and proud, but if you asked a muscle car to gracefully negotiate a corner, well … you’d have been far better off with a Porsche. That’s all been changing … [Read more...] about I drove a $50,000 Ford Mustang GT and a $52,000 Chevy Camaro SS in a battle of all-American muscle cars — and the winner was clear
Poll: More Americans in Holiday Spirit Now than in 2010
A poll surveying the nation’s views of the holiday season finds Americans say the Christmas holidays are more fun now than in the past. According to the NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll, 58 percent say the holiday season is more fun than stressful this year, compared to 38 percent who say they experience more stress.Marist Poll observes this outcome is “a turnaround” from 2010 when 59 percent of Americans said the Christmas holidays are more stressful and 38 percent said they are more enjoyable. In tapping into preferred holiday greetings, the survey finds 56 percent of Americans believe people should say, “Merry Christmas,” while 31 percent say their preferred greeting is “Happy Holidays.” When Christmas decorating is the topic, 71 percent of Americans say it is more fun than stressful, while 23 percent say the opposite. According to the poll, 55 percent of Americans will decorate an artificial Christmas tree, 21 percent will have a real one, and … [Read more...] about Poll: More Americans in Holiday Spirit Now than in 2010