The Creator of Settlers of Catan Has Some Important Gameplay Advice for You

Klaus Teuber is a name that’s probably not immediately recognizable to you but might ring a bell in the back of your mind because as the inventor of Settlers of Catan, his name graces every box. Surprisingly, board game design was originally Klaus’ hobby, but after selling 25 mil copies of Catan, he no longer has to work in a dental laboratory—or really ever again.

Great Big Story recently traveled to Germany to meet Klaus, and his family, and picked his brain for some gameplay strategies. His advice? Don’t waste your time chasing the longest road early in the game. You might think it’s your secret weapon, but it will end up hindering the growth of your settlements.

The entire video is a charming look at the mind of a legend, so dig in.

[YouTube via Geeks Are Sexy]


via Gizmodo
The Creator of Settlers of Catan Has Some Important Gameplay Advice for You

The US Army is deploying smart earplugs that block out loud noises and enhance quiet ones

TCAPS – that’s Tactical Communication and Protective System – are a sort of combo connected earplug/hearing aid currently being deployed by the US Army to both reduce hearing loss from explosive sounds and enhance perception of quiet tones.

The system, currently priced at a (perhaps unsurprisingly) lofty $2,000, is designed to address the problem of hearing loss in the military, one of the most widely reported disabilities among veterans. The issue has been attributed, in part, to soldiers’ unwillingness to wear traditional foam earplugs for fear of missing commands and enemy sounds.

The smartphone-connected TCAPS both block out loud sounds like explosions and gunfire, and are capable of enhancing whispers. The systems come in a variety of sizes and shapes for different ear canals and can by charged via solar, standard outlets and even vehicle batteries.

At present, the Army has issued 20,000 of the devices.

via NPR

via TechCrunch
The US Army is deploying smart earplugs that block out loud noises and enhance quiet ones

Voltron: Legendary Defender (Teaser 2)

Voltron: Legendary Defender (Teaser 2)

Gather the kids and blow their minds with this sneak peek at some of the dramatic and action-packed sequences in the upcoming Netflix-exclusive Voltron reboot. You should also check out the team’s transformation sequence here.

via The Awesomer
Voltron: Legendary Defender (Teaser 2)

Build a Sturdy, Heavy, and Simple Workbench for Around $65

Workbenches can make your life a lot easier if you work out of your garage. There are tons of variations for building your own, but over on Instructables, gearboxdesigns shows off a simple bench that’s pretty easy to make and comes in at around $65.

There are cheaper designs out there, but gearbox’s is built for stability. Which is to say, this sucker’s going to weigh a ton when it’s done. Still, it uses pine, which will wear down a little quicker, but it also keeps the cost down significantly. Of course, you’ll need a little bit of woodworking skill to make this for yourself, but all told, it’s not a terribly complex project. Head over to Instructables for the full guide.

Cheap and Rad Roubo Style Workbench | Instructables

via Lifehacker
Build a Sturdy, Heavy, and Simple Workbench for Around $65

Take a Look Up – Don’t Miss 2016’s Best Skywatching Events

skywatchingeventsfeat

The popular expression used for taking a break and enjoying the world around you is “stop and smell the roses.” I think a more interesting way to take some time is stopping to take a look up at the sky. There’s a lot going on up there. Constellations, the moon, and other planets in our solar system can be seen with the naked eye, so you don’t even need to an expensive telescope to take in the awesomeness of the universe. Of course, there are some times when looking at the sky is better than others. That’s why this awesome…

Read the full article: Take a Look Up – Don’t Miss 2016’s Best Skywatching Events

via MakeUseOf.com
Take a Look Up – Don’t Miss 2016’s Best Skywatching Events

Wearing Orange Doesn’t Prevent Violence

b9521daa-4083-48d3-b111-e039e13656a7

After hitting snooze a few times, I started my morning by checking my Twitter feed. I saw #wearorange was trending and orange selfies were popping up all over (no, they weren’t of Donald Trump). I read through the tweets of out of touch celebrities and socialist-leaning politicians whom were promoting the “movement to end gun violence” and literally had to facepalm. I chose a navy dress to throw on for work today because (and call me crazy) I wouldn’t care to point out the fact that I am opposed to guns and therefore likely NOT carrying concealed.

But hey, I could have a whistle or maybe a call box within 100 yards. Beware, criminals.

When I think of the color orange, all that fills my mind are mental images I catalogued first hand ten years ago. I still remember the melodic “clink” of handcuffs as they locked around my rapist’s wrists. It sounded almost as redemptive as hearing “we find the defendant guilty” spoken by the jury foreperson moments beforehand. The prison jumpsuit he had worn since June 3rd of 2006 will forever embody that blazing color to me.

As I walked out my front door into the world that is predictable only in a way that consistently proves evil can lurk around any corner, I reflected on the tangible things I’ve done to help end violence.

I reported my rape.
I testified in court.
I put a rapist in prison.
I suffered through traumatic side effects no person should ever experience.
I released my name.
I spoke out for victims.
I testified in front of legislators.
I confronted the president on gun control measures that chip away at our constitutional rights.
And I had the resolve to know I’d continue to do so.

So no, I didn’t wear orange to magically end gun violence today. I exercised my constitutional right as an American by wearing my Smith & Wesson on my hip, and headed out of the house knowing what I was wearing truly could make a difference.

The post Wearing Orange Doesn’t Prevent Violence appeared first on Bearing Arms.

via Bearing Arms
Wearing Orange Doesn’t Prevent Violence

Mary Meeker’s 2016 Internet Trends Report: Messaging Apps Could Rival Home Screen

Mary Meeker, a former Morgan Stanley internet analyst and now partner at venture-capital fund Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, has delivered her annual report that offers critical stats and trends about how technology is evolving. TechCrunch has highlighted the takeaways from the report: 1) The global internet adoption rate was flat year-over-year at 9%, reaching 3 billion users or 42% of the world’s population. 2) Smartphone adoption’s growth is slowing, while Android increases marketshare despite a shrinking average selling price. 3) Video viewership is exploding, with Snapchat and Facebook Live showing the way, though video ads aren’t always effective. 4) Messaging is dominated by Facebook and WeChat, it’s growing rapidly, and evolving from simple text communication to become our new home screen with options for vivid self-expression and commerce. 5) US advertising is growing, with Google and Facebook controlling 76% of the market and rising, but advertisers still spend too much on legacy media rather than new media where the audience has shifted. 6) Meeker predicts the rise of voice interfaces because they’re fast, easy, personalized, hands-free, and cheap, with Google on Android now seeing 20% of searches from voice, and Amazon Echo sales growing as iPhone sales slow.



Share on Google+

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

via Slashdot
Mary Meeker’s 2016 Internet Trends Report: Messaging Apps Could Rival Home Screen

Idiot Xing

1642

What are you possibly doing wrong while driving to screw up like that? I’ve passed cars as I’m texting while driving and speeding recklessly at the same time because I’m rushing home so I don’t poop my pants and I’ve still managed not to put my car up in the air.

Louisiana & Ohio

The post Idiot Xing appeared first on People Of Walmart.

via People of Walmart
Idiot Xing

Gigabyte shows 19-port Thunderbolt 3 dock, PCI-e graphics card chassis

At this week’s Computex expo, hardware vendor Gigabyte has unveiled a pair of Thunderbolt 3 peripherals, one dock, and one graphics card enclosure. The Thunderbolt 3 dock, dubbed the GP-TBT3, encapsulates nearly every kind of modern wired connector possible, as well as a pair of M.2 SSD interfaces internally….
via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network
Gigabyte shows 19-port Thunderbolt 3 dock, PCI-e graphics card chassis