Fans lined up around the block to see the new outpost.

Their tactics are being compared to stop and frisk.

White supremacists planned to spread the novel coronavirus.

Two commentators call for fair distribution of CARES package

Racial disparities are surfacing across the nation.

Only eight of 63 slated sites are in African American areas

Their tactics are being compared to stop and frisk.

Don't get it twisted.

She's carrying far more than a child.

Vasco da Gama Club said there will be no events held at the Club with fifty or more people, with the club adding that their Festa do Frango event will be postponed until October 17, 2020. A spokesperson said, “Considering the situation relating to Covid-19 and the recommendations issued on March 13, 2020 by the Government […] (Click to read the full article)

The Executive of the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association said that they support the call to ‘stay home’ and have urged the golf community and wider population to stay home and refrain from using golf courses for golfing, walking, jogging, cycling, etc A spokesperson said, “The Executive of the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association supports the call […] (Click to read the full article)

The Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers [ABIR] held its first virtual board meeting recently with more than 50 executives from member companies participating in the web-enabled meeting. A spokesperson said, “Bermuda’s leading insurers and reinsurers are meeting clients’ needs globally and demonstrating robust “operational resilience” during the Covid-19 pandemic. “As testament to the industry’s […] (Click to read the full article)

Noting that “there has been increased pedal cycle activity seen on the roads today,” the police have reminded people “that pedal cycling is prohibited during the Shelter in Place as “exercise has been restricted to a half mile from your home on foot.” The police posted on social media saying, “Good afternoon all, there has […] (Click to read the full article)

There are four people in custody that police believe were “involved in the shootings,” Police Commissioner Stephen Corbishley said, adding that “there are other arrests planned.” The Commissioner’s comments follow after the spate of gun violence on Monday, which saw the police respond to four separate firearms incidents in 24 hours. According to the police, the […] (Click to read the full article)

Eight motorists were arrested for impaired driving offences over the holiday weekend, the police have confirmed. A police spokesperson said, “Eight motorists were arrested for impaired driving offences over the National Heroes’ Day holiday weekend, with road sobriety checkpoints conducted in six parishes from the evening of Thursday, June 13th until the evening of Sunday, […] (Click to read the full article)

Three people were arrested for impaired driving from Friday evening [July 5] until Sunday evening [July 7]. A police spokesperson said, “Three motorists were arrested for impaired driving offences over the weekend, with road sobriety checkpoints conducted in six parishes from the evening of Friday, July 5th until the evening of Sunday, July 7th. “There […] (Click to read the full article)

A 45-year-old Pembroke man was arrested on suspicion of causing injury by careless driving, while a 63-year-old Southampton man was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving following two separate collisions yesterday [Sept 3]. Reported Three Vehicle Collision on North Shore Road in Devonshire A police spokesperson said, “Around 5:50pm Tuesday, September 3rd a reported three […] (Click to read the full article)

Ten people were arrested for impaired driving from Friday evening [Dec 6] until Sunday evening [Dec 8]. A police spokesperson said, “Ten motorists were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving over the weekend, with road sobriety checkpoints conducted in seven parishes from the evening of Friday, December 6th until the evening of Sunday, December 8th. […] (Click to read the full article)

Eight people were arrested for impaired driving from Friday evening [Dec 13] until Sunday evening [Dec 15]. A police spokesperson said, “Eight motorists were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving over the weekend, with road sobriety checkpoints conducted in seven parishes from the evening of Friday, December 13th until the evening of Sunday, December 15th. […] (Click to read the full article)

Thirteen people were arrested for impaired driving from Thursday evening [Dec 26] until Wednesday evening [Jan 1]. A police spokesperson said, “A total of 13 motorists were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving from the evening of Thursday, December 26th 2019 [Boxing Day] until the evening of Wednesday, January 1st 2020 [New Year’s Day] as […] (Click to read the full article)

Three people were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving from Friday evening [Jan 24] until Sunday evening [Jan 26]. A police spokesperson said, “Three motorists were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving from the evening of Friday, January 24th until the evening of Sunday, January 26th, with road sobriety checkpoints conducted in seven parishes [Hamilton parish, Smith’s […] (Click to read the full article)

Two men have been arrested following a shooting on Court Street on Tuesday [March 17] that resulted in the death of one man and injuries to another. Following the shooting, a police spokesperson said, “At around 2:45 pm today, Tuesday 17th March, police were called out to a reported firearms incident at the junction of […] (Click to read the full article)

A “number of persons were arrested” after a burglary at the Coconut Rock restaurant, the police have confirmed. A police spokesperson said, “Around 5:15 this morning, Monday 30th March, it was discovered that unlawful entry had been gained to Coconut Rock restaurant. “Enquiries were made and it was discovered that culprits had forced entry into […] (Click to read the full article)

MSE Junior Katie Daehn talks about her summer research internship in Germany. Having lived in Columbus my whole life, living in Germany for 12 weeks with a DAAD RISE scholarship was a hugechance for growth, both technically and personally. I left everything that was comfortable and familiar and headed on my own to Jena, Germany […]

The police continue to seek witnesses to two separate collisions in Southampton and Devonshire which both resulted in people being transported to the hospital for treatment. Male Rider in Hospital After Reported Single Vehicle Motorcycle Crash A police spokesperson said, “Around 4:30am Saturday, January 11th police officers on mobile patrol were flagged down by a […] (Click to read the full article)

Susan Heap, the Director of Operations at Ferrovial Services says that "Transportation is meaningful across all societies, for many different reasons. I chose a career that connected me to things that matter to all of us. I stay in this industry because of the variety of people and projects that I get to work with every day. There is always a new challenge to overcome or skill-set to learn." Thank you Susan for participating in TRB's Centennial Celebration. To read the more than 60 responses to April's q...

This seems to be something of a thing. Our last "Tales From the Quarantine" post focused on how television celebrities had taken to offering people help on Twitter with their virtual home decor in the latest Animal Crossing game. This post also involves Animal Crossing, but in a much more direct way. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are enormous numbers of people who have suddenly found themselves without jobs or regular income. And, so, they've turned to irregular sources of income instead.

Ars Technica has an interesting interview with one of many people who have taken to the internet to indirectly sell Animal Crossing's "bells", the currency of the game.

In the midst of COVID-19, some New Horizons players are turning to World of Warcraft-style gold farming methods to make ends meet. In early April, Lexy, a 23-year-old recent college grad, created a Twitter account offering up bells (Animal Crossing’s in-game currency) for real-world cash (she requested we refer to her by a nickname to avoid potential reprisal from Nintendo). “I got laid off due to COVID so I'm farming bells in ACNH,” she wrote. “I really need to make rent this month so I'm selling 2 mil bells per $5, please message me if interested, I'll give you a discount the more you buy.”

Before setting up this unorthodox income stream, Lexy had been working at a supermarket while developing her animation portfolio. She began exploring the idea of turning bells into cash after showing friends just how much in-game income she’d been making. “One of them asked to legitimately buy some for me,” she recalled in a Twitter interview. “I did some research and found some people selling bells on sites such as eBay, but for pretty ridiculous prices.” (Current prices on eBay seem more competitive, with some sellers offering rare gold tools and gold nuggets to sweeten the deal).

The threat from Nintendo is probably real. After all, unlike some other games where people do this sort of thing, Nintendo's game doesn't include any method for selling in-game resources for real currency. Nintendo is also notoriously prudish about things like this. And, finally, to make an effective go at this sort of thing, it takes some manipulation of the console in a way that is somewhat controversial with gamers generally.

Understandably, Lexy adjusts the clock on her Nintendo Switch to speed up the game’s slow, “natural” money-making cycle of harvesting daily fruit, digging up bells from the ground, and planting a daily “money tree” that can yield big profits. This kind of in-game “time traveling” is controversial practice among casual Animal Crossing players, but it's a practical necessity to maximize real-world bell-farming profits.

As for how much money people like Lexy are bringing in, it's in the four figures, but she wasn't any more specific than that. Payments are made through digital apps like PayPal, after which she visits the game islands of others and deposits the bells.

That all of this is going on during a global pandemic that has some folks farming bells to make ends meet and others with apparently enough disposable income to be buyers is all, of course, deeply strange. But it's also just yet another way technology is having an impact on our lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nice way to get to Alpha Centauri though boffin tells us: 'Such a laser system could be used as a weapon'

Coin-sized pieces of graphene can be accelerated by firing low-powered lasers at them in micro-gravity conditions, say scientists. The technology could be a stepping stone to graphene solar sails, which could propel future spacecraft using starlight or a laser array.…

IBM today announced that Fast Company has named IBM’s Harriet Green one of its 100 Most Creative People in Business for 2017. The annual list honors an influential and diverse group of leading thinkers from a vast range of global industries.

why am I helping to pay so much for the U.S. Military? I don't own anything.

I want to write this, but I don't want anyone to feel compelled to read it, so here, have some cut tags!

( Work stress )

( MtY stress )

( MtE stress )

( Mom stress )

I'm thinking of getting therapy just to have someone to talk to about all the stress. The good thing (honest, I see it as a good thing) is that most of the stress is basically external to me -- my days are generally easy and pleasant, and everyone who's not me may be melting down, but all my stress is in the way of a contact low, as it were. Other than being in a sandwich-generation holding pattern (when will the next phase of my life begin? no one knows), things are pretty good. I'm making more money than I ever have, I love my work, I get lots of downtime to read and hang out with James and mom, and my health is better than it's been in years. So yeah, if the universe could just leave my loved ones in peace, that'd be great.

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The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!