Cowboy Who?

In 2017 Twitter pulled the plug on Vine, and left a community of extremely-short-form-video creators without a platform. Since then TikTok has flourished, but it's still not the same thing. Vine cofounder Dom Hofmann has been teasing a sequel since late in 2017, and after months of being in closed beta, Byte is now available to everyone on Android and iOS.

A partner program to pay creators for their work is supposed to arrive "soon," and you sign up using either your Google account or Apple ID. If you're curious, the community guidelines are here, and the privacy notice is here. The app is video first, with a focus on getting stuff in front of you quickly just like Vine always did and TikTok does now. Will it be as addictive as either of those? Judging by the track record, probably, but it all depends on what people make of the app.

you know the drill: upload from your camera roll or use the byte camera to capture stuff. there are lots of ways to find new personalities and moments. explore what the community is watching and loving, view posts handpicked by our editors, or browse on your own.

— byte (@byte_app) January 25, 2020

Source: App Store, Google Play

An economist uses a broad range of data from 132 countries to understand why middle age is such a drag.

(Image credit: Nick Youngson/ImageCreator)

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10 Points to any astronaut who does this.

Tonight's comic is about distraction-free computing devices.

One reason why I enjoy the cold weather.

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He will also be compelled to admit he is a good dancer and can recite secular poetry.

Who's the most desirable droid in the galaxy? I feel like you know the answer.

We’re saddened to learn that founding member of Monty Python and British comedy legend Terry Jones has sadly passed away.  You’ve seen him in dozens of roles in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Life of Brian, and of course, Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

But that’s not all – Terry Jones was instrumental in the classic Jim Henson film Labyrinth.  Jones wrote the screenplay for the movie, working closely with Jim Henson and providing most of the humor you see in the film today.  He also co-wrote the book “The Goblins of Labyrinth” with Brian Froud.

Here’s Terry Jones himself to talk about his work on Labyrinth:

The comedy world lost a legend today, and we’re proud to remember Terry Jones as an important player in Muppet history, and that Labyrinth wouldn’t be anywhere near as wonderful without his contribution.

Click here to help us remember Terry Jones on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

The post RIP Monty Python’s Terry Jones appeared first on Muppet Fans Who Grew Up - Tough Pigs.

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I really would like to be a fly on the wall during a first date between evolutionary psychologists.

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This is basically an amalgam of Gaskill, Montgomery, and Austen, but with honest emotional states.

Tonight's comic stars history's sexiest robot.

If humans are going to have a long-term presence on the Moon, they're going to need breathable air and rocket fuel -- and the ESA might just have a way to create both using the Moon itself. The agency is running a prototype plant that converts moondust (currently simulated, of course) into oxygen that could be used for air and fuel. The technique unlocks the high amounts of oxygen in regolith using molten salt electrolysis that superheats the dust and migrates the oxygen along the salt until it's collected at an anode. The basic process has already been used for metal and alloy production, but the ESA tweaked it to ensure oxygen was available to measure.

As that suggests, this process could have an upshot for Moon explorers by producing useful alloys to construct habitats or repair vehicles.

There's a lot of work needed before plants like this can go to the Moon. It needs to store oxygen instead of simply venting the gas. Likewise, scientists would need to determine what alloys would be the most useful byproducts. A Moon-worthy test plant should be ready by the mid-2020s, though, so it may just be a matter of time before explorers are producing air far from Earth.

Source: ESA

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This one ended up way meaner-looking once it was drawn it. I'm prepared to roll with it.

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Oddly enough, this comic inspired by TH White's 'The Goshawk,' which I recommend to anyone interested in goshawks.

Who cares for the baby?
Choices in Child Care
Glickman and Springer
1978

This was still in a collection as of this writing. Of course it is outdated and weed worthy for a public library. Since it is more academic than practical, it might have a place in some archive or academic library. This topic really chaps me personally, since I struggled with working and parenting decades ago. It is even more awful that this situation hasn’t improved.  Sadder still, it hasn’t really changed since this book was published. Since the authors include research on the USSR and China in this book, I am sure that any success would be discounted since we are talking about Communists.

Every time I get one of these books for this site, I end up on a rant of quality child care and availability. From what I can tell, child care is still only available if you have serious money, or supportive family that will pick up the slack. Too bad if you don’t have either. Someone needs to write a book about that.

Mary

The post “The Kids Are Alright” appeared first on Awful Library Books.