Amazing 2-day online conference
Monday, 28 February 2022
New Planned Vehicle May Help Store Oxygen on Moon & Build ‘Lunar Villages’ - Report
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Russia Has Currently No Plans to Withdraw Its Diplomats from Canada - Ambassador
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Fence Around US Capitol Building Is Being Reinstalled Ahead of Biden's State of the Union Address
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Why 'Elden Ring' will (or won't) get you into 'Souls' games
Let’s talk about Elden Ring. Your social feeds and group chats probably won’t shut up about it, but you’re not sure if you want to pay up for something you might hate. Perfectly reasonable.
But FOMO is powerful and it might have you on the fence about the latest From Software joint that’s part of a loosely connected bunch of games people collectively call the "Souls" series. It encompasses Demon’s Souls, the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and now this new open world adventure with some story assistance by George R.R. Martin.
Souls games are known primarily for brutal difficulty, which is both entirely fair and overly simplistic. They each have nuanced combat, worlds full of vomit-inducing monstrosities that want you dead, and the risk of losing all your money each time you die. All of that is technically true about Elden Ring, too, but it’s also much friendlier up front and could be the one to finally draw you into From’s legendary house of horrors.
It could also repel you just as much as the others have. Instead of debating about difficulty settings and worrying about what this game should be, let’s be honest about what it is: A game that is indeed more approachable than its predecessors, but not at the expense of its challenging vision.
How Elden Ring is better for newcomers…
The main distinction between Elden Ring and its older siblings is its massive open world, available to explore in its entirety pretty much right after the tutorial is over. Aside from providing a much-needed twist on the formula, it also gave From plenty of room to rethink how welcoming these games can be to new players. Here are a few key ways Elden Ring could win skeptics or even haters over.
More ways to win
Souls games have always been unique in that even the most basic tutorial enemy (usually some doofus skeleton) can ruin your day if you let it. The scales are usually tipped so far in the player’s favor in other mainstream action games that it can be a little jarring for the weakest enemies to still present a challenge. That’s also true in Elden Ring, but now, you’ve got way more options. This is going to sound crazy, but seriously: You actually have an upper hand in many situations.
Lots of enemy groups just sort of hang around with their backs conspicuously vulnerable to attack. Not what I would do, but hey, they don’t listen to me. It’s great because in Elden Ring, you can actually use stealth. Press the left stick to crouch and walk around silently, go up behind an unsuspecting enemy, and stick your blade through them for a crunchy, satisfying critical hit. You can even get an accessory that turns these critical hits into health. It’s great.
If you do have to fight the honest way, Elden Ring has a new way to counter enemy attacks and open them up for huge damage that’s super easy to pull off. Simply put on a shield (newcomers should definitely use shields) and tap the heavy attack button right after blocking a strike. You’ll quickly strike back with a beefy counterattack that can, in some circumstances, stagger enemies. If that happens, you can pull off a frontal version of the backstab, effectively one-shotting some enemies.
This is by far the most straightforward counter system in any of these games, and after 40 hours, it’s still effective for me even in high-level areas. Finishers also look cool as hell and have some nasty sound effects to go along with them. I love it.
Like in other Souls games, you can summon other players for co-op if you’re having a tough time with a boss. Past that, though, is a new system that lets players collect and summon spectral familiars over the course of the game. If you see a white icon that looks like a gravestone or a gate on the left side of the screen, that means you can use your summons. It just so happens that almost every boss room allows this. You can do one summon per boss attempt, and even if the summon dies or doesn’t do much damage, they might steal your target’s attention for a few seconds, long enough to get in a bunch of hits.
Fewer ways to lose
Giving the player more roads to victory is nice, but removing some of the pitfalls that used to plague these games is equally effective.
In Dark Souls, weapons and equipment would break after too much use. You could repair them, but not if you were far from a checkpoint and didn’t have the right item. I’m happy to report that gear durability of any kind is gone from Elden Ring. Swing that sword against walls all you want, it won’t break. Beautiful, isn’t it?
All the other Souls games (minus Sekiro) made almost all of your actions cost stamina. If you recklessly swung your weapon too many times, you wouldn’t be able to do that (or sprint or dodge) anymore until the meter filled back up. That’s…still the case in Elden Ring, but the good news is they turned it off when you’re out exploring in the open world. Stamina only comes into play when fighting dudes. Gotta love it.
Oh, and fall damage has been turned down a ton, too. There are still pretty hard limits to how far you can fall, but you can at least jump down from the first floor of a building without dying in this game.
The death of inconvenience
All those changes in the moment-to-moment action account for a lot of Elden Ring’s newfound approachability, but the biggest factor by far is that From has stopped punishing players with inconvenience. Dying during major fights against the strongest and scariest enemies in a previous Souls game usually meant engaging in what players call “boss runs,” where you had to fight or dodge your way through at least a few enemies before getting back to the boss arena and trying again.
Boss runs sucked. Some of them were torturous, and obviously you always ran the risk of losing health or wasting a healing item before even starting the boss fight. Those have been almost totally eliminated from Elden Ring. Optional bosses hidden in secret catacombs around the world occasionally have a brisk and easy boss run through some weak enemies, but every main story boss I’ve seen has had a checkpoint right outside the door. It’s so simple and saves so many headaches.
Speaking of checkpoints, there’s a comically large number of them in the world. The main ones are these glowing spots called Sites of Grace, which replenish all your meters and your healing items, but also respawn non-boss enemies you’ve killed. You’ll find one Site of Grace, fight through like one somewhat difficult room in a dungeon, and there will be another one on the other side so you never have to do the annoying room again. You can freely fast travel between every Site of Grace from the start, too. Beyond that, little statues appear outside of most boss arenas to serve as respawn points if there isn’t a Site of Grace nearby.
Now it's time to reveal the biggest innovation of all: A map. Sure, every other video game gives you a map, but Souls games have always asked the player to remember how to get around labyrinthine, complex worlds without much assistance. That’s still the case with indoor areas, but the map at least helps you plot a course around the open world. If something is too hard, open the map and find empty space you haven’t explored yet. There’s always something out there that’ll be easier and net you sweet rewards.
Why Elden Ring might still not be the one for you
All of those quality-of-life changes make Elden Ring a substantially easier game to ease into than before. "Ease into" being the key words here. Merging onto a highway might be easy, but when it’s done, you’re still on a highway where lots of bad or unexpected things can happen. There are still plenty of reasons why Elden Ring might just not be your thing.
It’s still really hard
From Software made Elden Ring more friendly, but not easier. This is still a very challenging game. Longtime Souls fans love to say these games "aren’t that hard," but they are the last people you should listen to on this topic. A racecar driver probably doesn't think it's that hard to drive at incredible speeds either.
These games are tough. Enemies can kill you in one or two hits if you aren’t careful. The other day I found a guy called “Wormface” who spat corrosive gas at me, filling up a status effect meter as I stood in it. When the meter filled up (which took about 10 seconds unless I left the gas), I instantly died. There are ways to mitigate things like that, be it with different gear or consumable items, but the fact is you’ll usually have to die a few times to get to the point of knowing that.
You are going to die many, many times throughout the course of playing Elden Ring. A lot of those deaths will feel sudden and difficult to explain at first. That’s flatly not fun to a lot of people and I can’t blame them for that. It’s a different rhythm than what you might get out of other open world games, like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, where you’re playing as a historical superhero in a world full of dumb, weak guards.
Elden Ring is about being ready for anything while accepting that there are things you simply can’t be ready for around every corner.
And there’s nothing you can do about it
In case you were wondering, no, there isn't an "easy mode" in Elden Ring. Lots of games offer difficulty settings but this isn't of them. Every player will experience the same game, in terms of how much health enemies have and how much damage they do.
That said, there are often ways to make difficult things easy without changing a setting in the options menu. These games are all about creating as many small advantages for yourself as possible and nothing is off the table. If you notice an enemy getting stuck in a door or refusing to leave a room, use that as an opportunity to fight on your own terms. If a boss is annoying, use those summoning abilities to widen your margin of error.
And most importantly, remember that running away from or past challenging encounters is an option more often than not. If a named boss dragon swoops down into your path, jonesing for a tussle (this happens on occasion), just get on your horse and run by it. Every enemy gives up eventually. You’re not meant to fight everything the moment you first encounter it; escape is the only way to go sometimes, and the developers designed the game with that in mind.
Learning isn’t fun for everyone
Ultimately, Elden Ring (like its ilk) is about learning. You can’t half-ass your way through anything here because even a boss that’s half your level can shave 90 percent of your health bar away with a couple of well-timed hits. You need to know how much range your weapon has, how many hits you can get in when a boss is vulnerable for two seconds after an attack, and even if a corridor is too narrow to accommodate your swinging sword. Deaths are not setbacks, but merely opportunities to learn. Even if you don't kill a boss, you may have noticed something about its attack pattern that you can apply next time.
In other words, failure is an intrinsic part of the Souls experience.
But I can totally understand if failure isn't exactly fun in your mind. Sometimes I just want to run around and mash buttons and feel like a demigod for a while, too. You won’t find that here. What you will find, if you’re willing to put the time in, is one of the most outstanding video game worlds in years, full of truly surprising discoveries, beautifully grotesque monster designs, and an unparalleled feeling of satisfaction when you finally kill a boss that’s given you trouble for days.
I hope Elden Ring can at least make you appreciate the brilliance of the Souls formula, even if it deviates from that in some key ways. If it doesn’t, though, don’t worry about it. Nobody’s obligated to like anything, no matter how much your group chat is obsessed with it. Give them a few weeks and they'll move onto the next thing.
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More video games should let you fight and kill horses, like Sekiro
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Dark Soul 3 is wonderful, but haven't we played this game before?
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Dark Souls legend beats all 3 games in one sitting without getting hit
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Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Shares—Then Deletes—Photo Holding Fascist Banner at Ukraine Protest
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Sunday, 27 February 2022
Biden Believes COVID-19 Is What Stops Americans From Feeling Happy About 'Fastest Growing Economy'
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Rep. Higgins Baffles Everybody Online, With Even Dictionary Not Sure What His 'Woke Sky' Tweet Means
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Ukrainian MP Calls Zelensky ‘Criminal’ For Not Entering Negotiations in Face of Russian Spec Op
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Over 65% of Belarusian Citizens Vote in Favor of Constitutional Amendments
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Chechen Leader Mocks EU With Mirror Sanctions, Including One Acknowledging There Is 'No English Tea'
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Poll: Biden's Approval Rating Still Below 40% as Midterms Near, Raising Chances For Republicans
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Russia Envoy to UN Addresses Fake Information in Social Media About Russia's Spec Op in Ukraine
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Saturday, 26 February 2022
UK to Keep Secret Names of Thousands of Firms After Billions in COVID-19 Loans Lost - Report
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Iranian FM: Tehran Ready to ‘Immediately Conclude a Good Deal’, Should West ‘Show Real Will’
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Biden's Supreme Court Pick Will Push 'Woke Agenda', Leader of Conservative Latino Group Says
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How to schedule Instagram lives
Streamline the process of going live on Instagram by scheduling it in advance.
Since Oct. 2021 you've had the ability to schedule lives on Instagram. This helpful tool makes the time of your scheduled live visible in your bio, and also gives you the option to post that you're going to go live so your followers will know about it ahead of time. Beware that Instagram won't send you a push notification reminding you when your live starts, so you have to remember.
Don't worry, you can also reschedule or cancel an upcoming scheduled live. We'll walk you through how to schedule a live and how to cancel a live.
How to schedule an Instagram live:
1. Open Instagram
2. Swipe to the left
3. Find "Story" and the bottom of your screen
4. Swipe to "Live"
5. Select the calendar icon on the left hand side of your screen
6. Type the title of your Live Video where it says "Video Title"
7. Tap "Start time" and choose when you want your live to begin
8. Select "Schedule live video"
9. Tap "Share as a Post" to post about your Instagram live, or tap "Share Later"
When your Live is scheduled it will be shown on your profile.
How to cancel a scheduled Instagram live
1. Open Instagram
2. Navigate to your profile
3. Tap "Live video"
4. Select "Edit"
5. Select "Cancel live video"
More Instagram Tutorials
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How to post a photo to multiple Instagram accounts at the same time
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How to delete individual photos from a carousel on Instagram
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Danish Football Player Eriksen Returns to Game After Suffering Cardiac Arrest at EURO 2020
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US Determination to Expand NATO Creates Unpredictable Situation, Cuban MFA Says
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$3M of Meth Packed as Onions Apprehended at US Southern Border
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Friday, 25 February 2022
Britney Spears to ‘Move Out of the Country’ to Protect Herself From ‘Abusive Family’
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Astrophysicists Discover Origin of Closest Known Mysterious Radio Signals, Study Says
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Russophobia in US Nears Cold War Levels, With 80% Seeing Moscow as Enemy - Poll
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The Republican Awakening
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PFAS Have Contaminated US Drinking Water Wells, According to USGS Study
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The 10 best, most mouthwatering cooking shows on Netflix
If you're craving a new cooking show, Netflix has you covered.
The streaming service's selection of food and cooking shows ranges from competitions to documentaries to helpful tutorials. Whether you're looking to learn a new recipe or just want to gaze at beautiful food, you can't go wrong with any of the entries on this list. They're all informative, engaging, and full of absolutely delicious things to eat. Just be sure to avoid watching them on an empty stomach, otherwise you may find yourself licking your screen.
Here, in alphabetical order, are the best cooking shows on Netflix.
1. Chef’s Table
Each episode of Chef’s Table follows a different world-class chef, detailing their relationship to food and their culinary inspirations. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch these masters of their craft do what they do best, and the show’s sumptuous cinematography turns every dish into a work of art. You’ll come away from Chef’s Table with a renewed excitement about food, as well as some ideas for new dishes and extra fancy plating.
How to watch: Chef's Table is now streaming on Netflix.
2. High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
Netflix knows how to make a good cooking show. But High on the Hog is more than that. In this stunning four-part docuseries, food journalist Stephen Satterfield follows the journey of African cuisine across West Africa and the United States. It's a celebration of culture and cultural preservation that not only inspires but also urges viewers to appreciate the complex origins of food and family tradition as part of our global history.* —Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: High on the Hog is now streaming on Netflix.
3. Nadiya’s Time to Eat
Cooking can be time-consuming. If you have a busy schedule, you might find it impossible to make yourself a full meal. Nadiya Hussain understands and is here to help. Throughout this charming series, Hussain, who won The Great British Baking Show in 2015, shares time-saving recipes that won’t sacrifice flavor. All of her dishes are designed with ease in mind, and her helpful hosting style makes this one of the most watchable cooking shows on Netflix. If you want more of Hussain’s expertise, check out the equally lovely Nadiya Bakes.
How to watch: Nadiya's Time to Eat is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Nailed It!
Comedian Nicole Byer is joined by famed pastry chef Jacques Torres in judging this bake-off for amateurs. In each episode, unskilled competitors go head-to-head for a $10,000 cash prize and the prestigious Nailed It! trophy. With no experience and incredibly difficult assignments, this chaotic mess is more about what doesn't work out than what does. You'll smile at the winners, and laugh hysterically at the losers. It's like a failed Pinterest projects collection, but on Netflix and with food.* — A.F.
How to watch: Nailed It! is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Salt Fat Acid Heat
Part cooking show, part travel show, Salt Fat Acid Heat is a masterclass in flavor that feels like a warm hug. Join chef and author Samin Nosrat as she explains how mastering the show’s four titular components will make you a better cook. You’ll be treated to mouthwatering shots of some of the world’s best food as the series moves from Italy to Japan to Mexico to the U.S. Along the way, Nosrat's excitement about good food is infectious. By the time you’ve finished the series, you’ll be savoring everything you make with the same gusto she exhibits when enjoying an aged cheese or an excellent soy sauce.
How to watch: Salt Fat Acid Heat is now streaming on Netflix.
6. School of Chocolate
Do you enjoy baking competitions but hate watching people go home each week? Then be sure to check out School of Chocolate, a competition show where no one ever goes home. Instead of following a typical elimination format, School of Chocolate feels more like a masterclass where everyone gets a chance to learn and improve. Eight chefs study the art of chocolate and pastry with chef and master chocolatier Amaury Guichon. They get useful tips and feedback, and we get to feast our eyes on gorgeous chocolate creations. It's a win-win!
How to watch: School of Chocolate is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Taco Chronicles
Taco Chronicles showcases the versatility of its titular food. Every episode tracks the history and preparation styles of a different kind of taco and includes interviews with food writers, historians, and, of course, taco vendors. The show’s sharp focus allows it to really dig into the nitty-gritty of what makes tacos so amazing and so popular. If you don’t have a hankering for tacos by the end of the first episode, you must be some kind of superhuman.
How to watch: Taco Chronicles is now streaming on Netflix.
8. The Chef Show
Did you enjoy Jon Favreau’s 2014 film Chef? Do you wish it had a spin-off TV series? Well, you’re in luck, because The Chef Show exists! Favreau stars as himself alongside chef Roy Choi, who co-produced and served as a consultant on Chef. Like Chef, The Chef Show is a tribute to good food and the people who make it. So, Favreau and Choi interview and cook with a bevy of talented chefs and celebrity guests. The recipes and cooking segments are chill and relaxed, making it feel like instead of being lectured by experts, you’re learning from friends.
How to watch: The Chef Show is now streaming on Netflix.
9. The Great British Baking Show
Few cooking competitions are as comforting as The Great British Baking Show, which is full of challenging bakes, lovable contestants, and so, so many innuendos. What really makes The Great British Baking Show special are the contestants, who are all gifted amateur bakers. Once you see the kinds of elaborate concoctions they’re able to whip up, you’ll be jumping to put on an apron and get baking yourself. Just be sure to avoid the dreaded soggy bottom.
How to watch: The Great British Baking Show is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Waffles + Mochi
If you’re looking for a cooking show that’s as informative as it is wholesome, then Waffles + Mochi is the show for you. Waffles and Mochi are food-loving puppets, who find themselves working at a supermarket run by former First Lady Michelle Obama. They go on journeys all around the world to learn more about different foods and healthy eating. Along the way, they encounter world-famous chefs and celebrity guests, each with special lessons to impart. Waffles + Mochi is educational, adorable, and perfect for getting kids interested in the food they’re eating.
How to watch: Waffles + Mochi is now streaming on Netflix.
Asterisks (*) indicate the entry has been modified from another Mashable streaming list.
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Sanctions on Putin, Lavrov Signal Canada, Allies Seek to Rupture Ties With Russia, Envoy Says
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Thursday, 24 February 2022
Trump, His Children Will Not Testify After Defense Appeals Court Subpoenas - Report
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Elon Musk, His Brother Under Investigation Over Alleged Insider Trading - Reports
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Put your workout to use with this human-charged electric 3-wheeler
Arcimoto's Mean Lean Machine takes your energy and puts it back into your three-wheeled electric scooter.
The e-trike was announced at electric vehicle maker Arcimoto's new product event Tuesday and shows how a three-wheeled device can be as thrilling as a regular e-scooter. But it features a lot more tilting and self-charging than your average ride.
The MLM features a pedal generator so you can sit on the e-trike while its stationary and charge up the battery for later riding. All juiced up, Arcimoto says it can last for more than 200 miles and that the ride feels as smooth and stable as a bicycle despite all the titling and leaning — even while braking. Each of the three corners of the trike has its own electric motor, and the weight distribution likely improves the trike's stability.
Arcimoto is known for its other types of three-wheelers, including its "fun utility vehicle" that can hit 75 mph despite its small, golf-cart like size. Like the FUV, the MLM can fit up to two riders both leaning together.
While it's available for preorder with a $100 fee, specifics like final price will be announced closer to its summer launch.
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Florida House Passes ‘Stop WOKE Act’ & ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill to ‘Fight Back Against Indoctrination’
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Scientists Develop Lower-Cost Blood Test That Can Reveal Altzheimer's Before Symptoms Take in
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Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Iranian Government Returns 'Unauthorized' US-Made Vaccines to Poland
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Texas Governor Abbott Directs Protective Services to Label Parents of Transgender Kids ‘Abusers’
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US to Use Russia's Recognition of DPR, LPR to Escalate Ukraine Crisis- Ex-Senate Candidate
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New US Sanctions to Affect Europe, Ukraine More Than Russia - Expert
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White House: Biden ‘Not Considering' Meeting With Putin Amid Escalation in Tensions Over Donbass
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Journalists Suspended From Twitter Condemn 'Blatant Censorship' Over Russia Views
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Trump's Truth Social leaves lots of questions. Here are some answers.
Truth Social is finally here…sort of.
Former-president Donald Trump's very own social media platform officially went live in Apple's App Store on Monday, President's Day. However, the launch of Truth Social has not been pretty. Bugs, long waitlists, and various other problems have left people asking a lot of questions. This comes with the territory though. Truth Social is a Donald Trump product, after all.
After Trump was booted off Twitter and Facebook in the aftermath of the pro-Trump mob storming the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, it seemed like only a matter of time before he disseminated his daily thoughts and opinions online through a new medium. He tried blogging. It didn't work out.
Then, in October 2021, Trump announced that his long-anticipated social networking platform, Truth Social, was on the way. And that's when Truth Social's troubles began.
Trolls immediately found the unreleased version of the site, which wasn't supposed to be public, and defaced it with fake accounts and memes like Pig Poop Balls. Shortly after that, internet sleuths dug into the website's terms of service and found that Trump and his team were violating the licensing agreement from Mastodon, the open-source software Truth Social is built upon. (Truth Social eventually updated its licensing to adhere to Mastodon's requirements.)
Now that Trump's Twitter clone is accepting user registrations from the public, there's a slew of new problems and an assortment of new questions on everyone's mind.
Does Truth Social Have a waitlist?
Yes, the Truth Social app may have officially launched on Feb. 21, but the vast majority of people can't actually use the platform. Upon signing up for Truth Social with a name and email, users are allowed to reserve their username. But then, they are put in a line and given a number.
"Thank you for joining!" reads the Truth Social prompt. "Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist."
Truth Social started accepting around 500 beta users via invite last week. It's unclear how many users have been accepted onto the platform since the app actually launched. Waitlist features aren't out of the norm for new social apps. However, usually, there's a viral marketing aspect where users can invite friends to join the platform in order to move up a place in the line. There's no such incentive feature here.
So, is it actually due to "massive demand?" Let's find out.
How popular is Truth Social?
We all know that Trump cares deeply about big numbers – whether it be TV ratings, social media shares, sketchy business deals – you name it. The braggadocios face of the modern Republican Party loves to tout success. So, naturally, when Truth Social hit number one on Apple's App Store charts for free, non-gaming apps, Trump supporters boasted about the platform's popularity.
But, that begs the question: How many downloads has Truth Social actually received?
According to app analytics firm Apptopia, Truth Social has received an estimated 350,000 downloads by the end of Tuesday. Remember, the app officially launched Monday.
You may have seen waitlist numbers that are higher than that — it's unclear how those numbers are being given out. An Apptopia spokesperson explained to Mashable that the waitlist number they received in the app and the number they received via email were off by around 80,000 places.
I personally signed up for the app about an hour after my App Store "pre-order" notification let me know Truth Social went live. At first, I was placed at around 11,000 on the waitlist. The next time I reopened the app, Truth Social had pushed me back in the line to where I sit now at around 100,000.
What's is the "missed a step" error in Truth Social?
Waitlist issues aren't the only glitches on the Truth Social app. Some users who attempted to sign up received an error message preventing them from even reserving a spot on the list.
“Oops, looks like you have missed a step,” reads the error message some have received when attempting to input their email address.
According to reports from those who have received the error prompt, it appears that the message shows up when trying to use certain email address domains. For example, some users have said that changing their email from a Yahoo email address to a Gmail address resolved the issue.
What is the controversy with the Truth Social logo?
Aside from the glitches, Truth Social is also once again dealing with potential legal problems.
Some users noticed that the logo for Truth Social bared a striking resemblance to the logo for Trailar, a UK solar vehicle company.
Tweet may have been deleted
The two logos do look quite similar and Trailar seemed to be having a bit of fun with it on Twitter, tagging the Trump family in a sarcastic tweet. Since the tweet, however, it seems the company has taken a more serious stance. According to a statement from Trailar provided to The Daily Beast, the company is "now seeking legal advice to understand next steps and options available to protect our brand."
Will Trump make money off Truth Social? What is the SPAC?
Truth Social is essentially a social network with approximately 500 known users right now. Yet, you can already invest in Truth Social on the stock market? How?
Back in October, the social network's parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) merged with Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), a publicly-traded SPAC. What's an SPAC? Basically, SPACs are shell companies that are listed on the stock exchange with the intent to acquire a company or partner with a third-party in order to provide that entity with a stock listing.
While the SPAC is currently under SEC investigation for "potentially skirting securities laws," thanks to the structure, Truth Social and the rest of TMTG claims it has a market valuation of around $19 billion.
When will Truth Social actually launch?
The only concrete date that was ever listed for a Truth Social launch was Feb. 21. And, as we know, that date came and went and all most iPhone users got was an app that doled out spots on a waitlist.
But, reports prior to President's Day had strongly insinuated that the actual launch of the Truth Social platform was going to be pushed back. According to TIME, TMTG CEO Devin Nunes said the platform would launch by March 31.
Is there an Android version of Truth Social?
No. There is currently no Android app for Truth Social. If you're an Android user, there's currently no timeline for a Truth Social Android app.
Will there truly be "free speech" on Truth Social?
Probably not. Truth Social has rules and terms of use like any other social network. Users who have been accepted into the beta program have shared that certain types of content have been hidden. Users on the waitlist have reported that their accounts have been banned as well.
And if you're wondering how an account could be banned without ever posting a single piece of content, you're going to have to ask CEO Devin Nunes about that.
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Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Tesla SUV named best EV on Cars.com
The Tesla Model Y just snagged the top EV title on car shopping site Cars.com.
The $58,990-electric SUV was named the best electric vehicle of 2022 on Monday. The "best of" winners will continue rolling out this week for five other categories like "best luxury car."
Just last week Tesla was snubbed in Consumer Reports top auto picks with the Ford Mustang Mach-E being the only EV to make the list. Cars.com, for its part, listed the electric Mustang as a runner up to the Model Y.
Tesla fans have also been feeling slighted as the U.S. government consistently avoids mention of Tesla when talking about the electric vehicle industry.
Cars.com praised the Model Y for its 326-mile range (for those who buy the long-range AWD version), easy charging at home or on the Tesla Supercharger and other public charging networks, and for drivability despite being big enough to comfortably fit a family. The Model Y can go 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Cars.com also highlighted a feature not unique to the Model Y: over-the-air updates from Tesla that make the car more valuable after purchase, and can even upgrade the EV's acceleration and infotainment system without a visit to a dealer or shop.
Cars.com said its "best of" winners are chosen based on drivability, charging speed, versatility and "overall excellence." The top award is the overall "Best of the Year," which will be announced later this week. The hybrid Ford Maverick pickup truck and all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 are the only two EVs up for the top title.
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Facebook crypto scammers pose as Tesla, Amazon, and even Facebook
Earlier this month, some users scrolling through Facebook may have seen an unexpected message, apparently from CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself.
Facebook recently rebranded itself as Meta, and the advertisement, which included a photo of Zuckerberg in front of a background of purple polygons, claimed to offer a chance for users to invest in a new Meta cryptocurrency.
Another ad, posted around the same time and also promoted on Facebook, was tied to a page called “Metaverse” and similarly offered a shot at a presale of the upcoming “Meta token,” saying “the thrilling digital future has arrived.” The ads both included Meta’s new logo, an infinity sign.
But Meta doesn’t offer any such cryptocurrency. The ads, until recently available for view in Facebook’s public ad library, were frauds that slipped through Facebook’s content moderation process, despite the use of Zuckerberg’s image and the company’s new logo.
Meta’s rules for advertisers on Facebook place strict limits on how ads sell cryptocurrency, but The Markup identified several pages that recently placed ads for nonexistent “tokens” using the logos of large tech companies and even the faces of some of Big Tech’s most prominent people, including Zuckerberg, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
While scams in Facebook ads aren’t a new phenomenon and cryptocurrency scams have plagued platforms well beyond Facebook, these ads are particularly brazen: a network of scammers imitating the tech industry’s biggest players, on the tech industry’s largest social media platform, to shake down its users.
“Meta Tokens” and other tech company “coins”
The ads The Markup found—about 20—are from pages with names like “Metaverse,” “Web 3.0,” “Amazon coin,” or “MSFT Web 3.0 Metaverse.” Some ads ran for days before they were pulled down, even those that prominently featured imagery like Meta’s infinity symbol logo or Zuckerberg.
One of the ads linked out to a site that claimed to be associated with Meta and featured not only photos of Zuckerberg but also of chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg as well as other C-suite executives at the company.
The site claimed the fictional token would launch with a “BIG blastoff” on Feb. 22 and that potential investors could join a presale by making a purchase through the cryptocurrency bitcoin or Ethereum. The minimum investment: $200.
The Markup found one ad, which promoted “the birth of META Token,” after it was served directly to a reporter’s personal account. Others were found through Facebook’s public ad library or through data from Citizen Browser, a Markup project that collects data from a paid panel of Facebook users in the United States.
It’s not only Meta that’s being imitated in ads, we found. Other ads have used tech companies’ trademarks to push “investments” in “tokens.” One included the Apple logo and offered the opportunity to invest in a fake “iMetaverse token.”
Panelists in The Markup’s Citizen Browser project saw multiple pages dedicated to nonexistent “Amazon tokens.” Pages included the e-commerce giant’s logo or photos of Bezos. Two ads, according to data from Citizen Browser, were targeted directly to users who had shown an interest in bitcoin.
“You can participate in the birth of Amazon Token and be one of the first buyers,” the associated page for one ad said. “Get Started Today!”
Other ads shown to our panelists featured Musk’s face and suggested an investment in a “Tesla token.” A similar ad, also seen by panelists in the Citizen Browser project, offered a token for WLMRT—a nonexistent Walmart cryptocurrency.
Facebook uses a combination of AI and human moderators to flag advertisements. But the company’s human moderation is “entirely inadequate,” and it’s not clear how many scams its AI flags before they reach users, said Paul Bischoff, the editor of Comparitech, a site that rates security software and has monitored illegal Facebook ads.
“We don’t really know how big the problem is,” he said, “but there’s obviously still a lot of them getting through.”
The ads reviewed by The Markup are unlikely to have met the company’s standards for ads. For one, Meta’s rules include tight restrictions around any cryptocurrency ads. Potential sellers must meet specific eligibility requirements, then submit a form to Facebook for approval before they begin to sell ads.
Advertisers on the platform also must be careful about how they associate themselves with Facebook. Ads may mention “Facebook” so long as it’s not the “most prominent feature” of an ad. Using the company’s corporate logo is prohibited, and ads cannot imply an endorsement. The company’s policy doesn’t specifically mention use of “Meta.”
Some of the pages serving the ads were removed before The Markup reached out to Meta for comment, and the company removed others after The Markup’s request for comment.
“The ads flagged to us violated our policies against deceptive and scammy behavior so we removed them,” Meta spokesperson Mark Ranneberger said in an emailed statement. “Our systems get better when people report this kind of behavior in ads by tapping the three dots in the top right corner and selecting ‘Report Ad.’ ”
Other imitators
The ads aren’t the only example of Facebook dealing with imitators on its platform. In 2018, The New York Times reported on how fake Mark Zuckerbergs were scamming Facebook users, enticing some with a fraudulent “Facebook lottery” win and then requesting payments before receiving the cash. The Times uncovered hundreds of accounts on Facebook and Instagram impersonating Zuckerberg and Sandberg.
Media personalities in multiple countries have filed suit against Facebook after their images appeared in cryptocurrency scams, and in 2019 a court in the Netherlands ordered the company to more proactively stop scam ads that feature celebrity images.
Cryptocurrency has also become a popular tool for cybercriminals, although some high-profile busts suggest that the difficulty of tracking down transactions has been overstated.
In a report released last year, the Federal Trade Commission said reports of cryptocurrency fraud had “skyrocketed” and that almost 7,000 people had reported a total of more than $80 million in losses between October 2020 and May 2021—an increase of 12 times in frequency and 1,000 percent in money lost, according to the agency.
Around the internet, imitation is a strategy that pays off for those scams.
Twitter, for example, has spent years dealing with scammers on its platform attempting to borrow the identity of Elon Musk.
Some savvy hackers have, in the past, taken over verified Twitter users’ accounts, switched the accounts’ profile photos to Musk’s image, and claimed to offer massive cryptocurrency rewards in exchange for a relatively small investment of cryptocurrency. In its recent report on cryptocurrency scams, the FTC said it had received reports of Musk impersonators taking more than $2 million in just six months.
According to the agency’s report, people in their 20s and 30s “reported losing far more money on investment scams than on any other type of fraud, and more than half of their reported investment scam losses were in cryptocurrency,” while users 50 and older were relatively unlikely to report being victims of such scams.
The ad Facebook served to a Markup reporter offering a chance to get in on the ground floor of “META Token” was targeted toward American men between the ages of 30 and 64 and offered them a chance to “be one of the first buyers” of the new currency.
This article was originally published on The Markup and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.
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How to schedule your Tweets to send later
Because sometimes it's better to wait.
Twitter is known for blazing hot takes, lightning fast updates, and memes upon memes dissecting the internet's obsession du jour. The social media company's slogan, "it's what's happening," emphasizes the platform's focus on nowness — it's signup page, which loudly declares "happening now," makes that message unmistakable.
That's why hitting "Tweet" immediately sends your potentially ill-considered musings out into the world without delay. However, if the vibe isn't right, or if the thing you want to comment on hasn't happened yet, you can use a little-known feature to schedule your tweets to be sent at a later time of your choosing.
How to schedule tweets
Scheduling tweets works exactly like you might expect. You write the tweet now, but it sends at a later date.
Twitter rolled out the feature in 2020, but, it's only available on the web app, people who primarily use Twitter on their phones may have never even noticed it.
To schedule a tweet:
1. Open Twitter on your desktop or laptop
2. Compose the tweet you want to send later
3. Select the calendar icon
4. Choose the time and date you wish to send the tweet
5. Select "Confirm"
6. Hit "Schedule"
That's it! You've now scheduled a tweet for later.
Twitter will remind you of this fact with some text telling you when the tweet is scheduled to post.
You're all done — except for one crucial and all-important detail: remember that you've scheduled the tweet.
You don't want to be caught off guard months later, when your out-of-date take shows up on Twitter because you forget to change it.
Twitter is, after all, about what's happening now.
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