"The holidays have never known the power of the dark side…until now."
This is brought to you by Corridor Digital, the folks behind the "Superman with a GoPro" video.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!
Make a Bacon and Egg Bread Wreath for a Great Holiday (or Anytime) Breakfast
It’s bacon and eggs stuffed into buttery bread. It cooks in under 15 minutes. It’s shaped like a wreath and can feed eight people. What more can you ask for in a breakfast treat?
Crescent rolls are the MVP of this dish, which you can assemble the night before for a quick bake in the morning. (You do need to have scrambled eggs and cooked bacon before you toss this in the oven.) Perfect for post-holiday mornings when the kitchen is the last place you want to be but you do want a hot dish to serve your whole family. I’m going to stock up on crescent rolls for this and mini apple pie bites all year round.
Bacon and Egg Bread Wreath | YouTube
via Lifehacker
Make a Bacon and Egg Bread Wreath for a Great Holiday (or Anytime) Breakfast
Buying A Gun? Here Is My Advice
Buying a gun for the first time can be frustrating. We cut through a lot of the confusion and stick to what works. This is not a complicated process as some would have you think. […]
The post Buying A Gun? Here Is My Advice appeared first on Bearing Arms.
TFBTV: USMC Rifle Range Qualification
On this episode of TFBTV, Miles Vining takes a look at how the U.S. Marine Corps goes about the annual rifle qualification process that every Marine undertakes every year. Qualification is not only important for keeping up the fundamentals of marksmanship, but also plays into a Marine’s cutting score, or a number that is calculated, […]
The post TFBTV: USMC Rifle Range Qualification appeared first on The Firearm Blog.
If You’re Launching A Tech Startup In 2016, Focus On Privacy And Fast Data
Enterprises over the last decade have devoted large portions of their IT budgets to collecting, securing and analyzing huge volumes of big data. Or at least trying to. But heading into 2016, the increasing complexity of networks, and the sheer number of connected devices that are constantly streaming data over those networks, will create a paradigm shift in how enterprises secure and manage… Read More
via TechCrunch
If You’re Launching A Tech Startup In 2016, Focus On Privacy And Fast Data
The Onion Reviews The Force Awakens
(PG-13: Language) For The Onion, film critic Peter Rosenthal, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will never be as good as the first movie in the series. But he knows that for many horny teens, it – and heck, potentially any movie – will be their best movie ever.
via The Awesomer
The Onion Reviews The Force Awakens
Today’s Best Deals: Apple TV, Virtual Reality, Mini Jambox, and More
Apple’s new set top box, a cheap VR headset, and the smallest Jambox highlight today’s best deals. Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here to learn more.
For a limited time, RadioShack (that’s not a typo) is selling a new Apple TV for $120, or $30 off its MSRP. They’ll also toss an HDMI cable in for good measure. Be sure to check out Gizmodo’s review if you’re on the fence. [Apple TV Next Generation – 32GB and HDMI Cable Bundle, $120]
You have no shortage of options when it comes to Bluetooth speakers, but the Jawbone Jambox line started the entire trend, and its highly-rated mini model is just $60 today on Amazon. [MINI JAMBOX by Jawbone Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, $60]
It’s not as advanced as a Samsung Gear VR or Oculus Rift, but if you have a smartphone and $19, you can experience VR with this View-Master VR starter set.
The View-Master is actually just a Google Cardboard-compatible VR headset, except, you know, it’s not made of cardboard. That means it’s cheap, but not too janky to give as a gift this holiday season. [Viewmaster VR With Google Cardboard Support, $19]
We can all afford to be paranoid at this price. [Magicfly Stainless Steel RFID Blocking Credit Card Holder, $3 with code QNY3U45R]
If your car is old enough to lack both Bluetooth and an AUX jack, this wireless FM transmitter will bring it up to code, no wires required. [Mpow Streambot Flex 2-In-1 Wireless Car Stereo Bluetooth FM Transmitter, $25 with code SJGSYZHL]
I dare say, even a footman could afford to buy the first five seasons of Downton Abbey on Blu-ray for $45. [Preorder Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey: Seasons 1-5, $45]
Amazon just kicked off their end-of-year digital game sale, with big discounts on downloadable PC, PS4, and Xbox One titles. Highlights include Cities: Skylines for $12, Bioshock Triple Pack for $14, and Civilization V Complete for $13, but be sure to head over to Amazon to see all of the available discounts. [Amazon]
Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom Creative Cloud photography suite normally costs $10 per month, but Amazon’s currently selling a 12-month plan for just $8 per month for the holidays. Creative Cloud plans don’t go on sale often, so if you’re a creative professional, or just want to make your own photos look better, this is a great opportunity to save on industry standard software. [Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan, $8 per month for one year]
In just a few short years, App Santa has become one of my favorite holiday traditions, and it’s back today with great deals on popular iOS and Mac apps from some of the best indie developers in the business.
Personally, I use Tweetbot for Mac every single day, and Soulver, Drafts, Clear, and Deliveries also occupy space on my first two iPhone home screens. Every app in the promotion is popular and highly-rated though, so be sure to check out the full list below.
- Soulver – the notepad calculator ($1) | Normally $5
- Terminology 3 – Extensible Dictionary and Thesaurus ($1) | Normally $3
- Drafts 4 – Quickly Capture Notes, Share Anywhere! ($5) | Normally $10
- Clear – Tasks, Reminders & To-Do Lists ($2) | Normally $5
- Perfect Weather – NOAA Radar, Forecast, and Severe Weather Alerts ($1) | Normally $3
- Deliveries: a package tracker ($3) | Normally $5
- Screens VNC – Remote Access To Your Desktop Computer ($14) | Normally $20
- Calendars 5 – Event and Task Manager with Google Calendar Sync ($3) | Normally $7
- Pennies – Personal Money, Budget & Finance Manager ($2) | Normally $4
- PCalc – The Best Calculator ($7) | Normally $10
- PDF Expert 5 – Fill forms, annotate PDFs, sign documents ($5) | Normally $10
- Star Walk™ HD – Guide to the Night Sky Map ($1) | Normally $3
- Vee for Video ($2) | Normally $5
- Group Text+ ($1) | Normally $4
- Launch Center Pro – Shortcut launcher and Today widget ($2) | Normally $5
- Scanner Pro – Scan any document and receipt to PDF ($1) | Normally $7
- Day One (Journal / Notes / Diary) ($1) | Normally $5
- Tweetbot for Mac ($7) | Normally $10
If you’ve got some cash to spend, and need a whopper of a last minute gift, Logitech’s Harmony Ultimate remote is marked down to just $195 today on Amazon, which is an all-time low, and more than $100 off its usual price. [Logitech Harmony Ultimate Remote with Customizable Touch Screen and Closed Cabinet RF Control, $195]
Order today, and you can still stuff everyone’s stockings with sub-$20 Bluetooth headphones. [Mpow Wolverine Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Sports Headphones, $18 with code NXZ7GIVS]
More Deals
Tech
- PNY Elite Performance 256GB High Speed SDXC Card ($71) | Amazon
- Samsung 64GB EVO Class 10 Micro SDXC Memory Card with Adapter ($18) | Amazon
- Samsung 32GB EVO Class 10 Micro SDHC up to 48MB/s with Adapter ($10) | Amazon
- Yubi Power Slim Surge Protector With 3 AC Plug Outlet Plus 2 USB Ports ($9) | Amazon
- Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Pro Monitor Headphones Black W/Blue Mic YETI USB Mic ($130) | Adorama
- Apple TV Next Generation – 32GB and HDMI Cable Bundle ($120) | RadioShack
- MINI JAMBOX by Jawbone Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ($60) | Amazon
- Sennheiser HD 218i On-Ear Stereo Headphones ($30) | Woot
- iLive Boombox Bluetooth Speaker with CD Player ($37) | Amazon
- Hisense 50-Inch 1080p 120Hz Class LED Smart HDTV ($350) | Walmart
- Dell Inspiron Intel Celeron, 2GB, 32GB eMMC, 14” Laptop ($150) | Best Buy
- HP Pavilion Intel Core i5, 4GB, 1TB, 17.3” Laptop ($350) | Best Buy
- Samsung Ultra-Slim Black Optical Drive, M-Disc Support, MAC OS X compatible ($18) | Amazon
- Huawei Nexus 6P 4G with 32GB Memory Cell Phone ($450) | Best Buy
- View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack ($19) | Amazon
- Jumbl 22MP All-In-1 Film & Slide Scanner w/ Speed-Load Adapters for 35mm Negative & Slides, 110, 126, & Super 8 Films ($75) | Amazon
- Inateck iPad Mini Smart Case with Magnetic Auto Sleep Wake-up Function ($7) | Amazon | Use code WUSBA6HW
- ORICO 2.5’’ Aluminum Tool Free Type C USB 3.0 to SATA III Hard Drive Enclosure ($16) | Amazon | Use code BEDALRNI
Home
- Select Solar Gear is On Sale Today at Home Depot
- 4’ 250 Watt Equivalent LED Shop Light ($45) | Woot
- Sunbeam Sunbeam 0.7-Cubic Foot Microwave Oven ($70) | Sears
- Keurig K10 Mini Plus Brewing System ($65) | Amazon
- IRON HORSE Warrior 3.1 26” Mountain Bike ($330) | Sears
- Folding Banquet Table ($30) | Target
- Outdoor Products Arrowhead Technical Pack ($21) | Amazon
- Gerber Gator Machete JR ($11) | Amazon
- GEKO E100 1080p Dash Camera with DVR ($50) | B&H
- GearWrench GearWrench KDT 80066SS 20 Pc. Master Screwdriver Set with FREE 4 Pc. Scraper Set ($101) | Sears
- Magicfly Stainless Steel RFID Blocking Credit Card Holder ($3) | Amazon | Use code QNY3U45R
- Kohree 16 Super Bright LED Wireless Solar Powered Motion Sensor Light ($12) | Amazon | Use code 7KJHJ585
- Kohree Battery-Operated Stick-On LED Tap Light ($7) | Amazon | Use code RSFFQIGC
- Kohree 3 PCS Solar Powered Wireless 4 LED Security Motion Sensor Light ($26) | Amazon | Use code V5FZ2FRF
- Mpow Streambot Flex 2-In-1 Wireless Car Stereo Bluetooth FM Transmitter ($25) | Amazon | Use code SJGSYZHL
- 3-Pack Etekcity Programmable Wireless Remote Control Electrical Outlet Light Switch ($14) | Amazon | Use code W2REMOTE
- Edge Pro 2 Stage Sharpening System Kit Blade Knife Sharpener for Kitchen Chefs ($6) | amazon | Use code SLPXQOFF
Gaming
- Mad Catz M.O.J.O. Micro-Console for Android 16GB ($75) | Amazon
- Refurb / Preowned Xbox One 500GB System, Playstation 4 500GB System, and a Nintendo Wii U 32GB System ($570) | Gamestop
- The Amazon Winter Game Sale is Happeneing Now, Includes Some Console Games
- The Steam Winter Game Sale is Happeneing Now
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III ($30-$40) | Best Buy
- FIFA 16 ($30) | Best Buy
Media
- Best Buy has a Selection of Blu-Rays On Sale Today
- Captain Phillips ($7) | Amazon
- Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey: Seasons 1-5 ($40-$45) | Amazon
- Southern Bastards Hardcover Vol. 01 ($20) | Tfaw
- Star Wars, Classic (Ultimate Sticker Books) ($4) | Amazon
- Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Series Vol 1 [Kindle] ($3) | Amazon
- The Woodcutter, Kate Danley [Kindle] ($2) | Amazon
Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a smallClick here to learn more. We want your feedback.Send deal submissions to Deals@Gawker and all other inquiries to Shane@Gawker
httpsDeals/status/630717684355694593
via Lifehacker
Today’s Best Deals: Apple TV, Virtual Reality, Mini Jambox, and More
Hands On: NetSpot 2.4 (OS X)
The fella in the cubicle next to you has terrific download speed and the woman on the opposite side can run online multi-user games all day –– and you can barely pick up your emails. We’d suggest you have a word with both of these people about just how much bandwidth they’re using but if they look innocent, then call in NetSpot 2.4 to check out the whole wifi network….
via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network
Hands On: NetSpot 2.4 (OS X)
There’s One Thing I Totally Hate About The Force Awakens
Let me clarify: I don’t actually hate Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I watched the movie three times in four days, and will surely see at least twice more before it leaves theaters. But even though I love the movie, there is one major aspect of it that distresses me immensely. Major spoilers ahead…
Because The Force Awakens has destroyed Luke, Leia, and Han’s happy ending.
It’s gone. That sense of “and they lived happily ever after” from the close of Return of the Jedi has been annihilated as thoroughly as the Hosnian system. The original trilogy, which ended with the Rebels blowing up the Death Star, defeating the Empire, and saving the galaxy from tyranny, now concludes with is merely a brief celebration before the battle continues.
It was inevitable, of course. Once a sequel trilogy was announced, of course there needed to be bad guys for the good guys to fight. So Luke and the others couldn’t have completely saved the day. Perhaps renaming the Rebels and the Empire to the Resistance and the First Order was an attempt to salvage some sense of the original heroes’ accomplishments, but it’s difficult to feel that Luke and the others accomplished very much at all when there are still Stormtroopers marauding throughout the galaxy and entire planets are still being destroyed on the orders of British men in dark military uniforms.
As someone who grew up on Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, retroactively qualifying the Rebels’ victory over the Empire and the accomplishments of the original trilogy is distressing enough. But what really upsets me about The Force Awakens is how it reveals (determines?) that despite all the conflict they faced, and all the victories they won, Luke, Leia and Han’s lives after the Original Trilogy were basically miserable.
And “miserable,” I think, is the correct word: Han and Leia not only had a kid who turned evil, but this was so traumatic that it tore their relationship apart, separating them for years. Luke tried and utterly failed to revive the Jedi order and not only got a bunch of people killed in the process, but failed to prevent his nephew from falling prey to the dark side. He’s spent years in self-imposed exile as a result. There’s no silver living here, no way to spin it—our heroes, the ones I grew up with, spent most of their adult lives alone, in anguish.
I hate this. I hate knowing that despite all the work they did, despite the conflicts they overcame, despite their many losses they suffered already, that their miseries were just beginning. I hate the idea that whenever I watch Leia and Han kiss in Empire Strikes Back from now on, I’ll know that in a few years their son will have murdered the students of Luke’s Jedi Academy, and their romance will end in pain. I hate the idea of when I see Luke save his father Anakin in Return of the Jedi, and finally bring balance to the Force, that I’ll always know that only failure and heartache await him.
I hate this decision, but I understand it. I don’t even think it was a bad choice— once Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford were confirmed to be reprising their roles, there’s no way the three original heroes were all going to be found contentedly sipping the Star Wars equivalent of mai tais on some beach planet somewhere. That’s not interesting, and furthermore the new generation of characters needed conflicts to overcome, which in turn meant conflicts that Luke, Leia and Han couldn’t solve. That’s basic storytelling, and it’s exactly the sort of construction that always informed Star Wars, in that Luke and his compatriots had to solve the problems the previous generation had left behind.
But that doesn’t make it any easier to see Luke, Leia and Han turn from heroes into screw-ups—for them to have saved the galaxy and then, by their various failures, almost immediately bring it into a sorry state once again. I don’t want them to have messed up this badly. I don’t want them to be unhappy. Honestly, I don’t even want them to be old. When I think of Han Solo, I don’t want to remember an elderly smuggler who’s got nobody left to swindle, and whose main legacy is Kylo Ren—I want to think of the dashing scoundrel whose heroic nature got the better of him.
I understand that happy endings aren’t really real, that it’s naïve to think that once Return of the Jedi ended that Luke, Leia and Han suddenly had no more problems. That’s simply not how life works, presumably even a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But for over 30 years, that was how it worked in the Star Wars universe—three young heroes defeated evil, brought peace to the galaxy, and lived happily ever after. It might not have been a particularly realistic ending, but then, I didn’t fall in love with Star Wars because of its gritty realism.
As great as The Force Awakens is, as many things it gets right, it didn’t come without a cost. I guess we won’t know if it was worth it until Episode IX comes out. But even if all the future Star Wars installments are as good as, or better than, TFA, I can’t help but feel every time I watch the Rebel Alliance’s celebration on Endor, I won’t be cheering for Luke, Leia, and Han; I’ll be mourning them, because this is the end of their happiest moment together, and it’s all downhill from there.
Contact the author at rob@io9.com.
via Gizmodo
There’s One Thing I Totally Hate About The Force Awakens
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Top 10
(PG-13) Gary the stormtrooper takes his daughter to work, Anakin goes to his happy place, Pruneface dreams of having more screen time and more in this look back at the funniest Robot Chicken: Star Wars scenes.
via The Awesomer
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Top 10