The Beachcomber offers this weekly collection of stories from everywhere but Washington D.C., for readers looking to climb out of the rabbit hole for a moment and reconnect to the world.
This week brings us invisible money, the FBI director’s not-so-secret social media accounts, KFC through the mail and Gibraltar’s need for a parenting plan.
WILL THAT BE CASH, CHECK, CREDIT CARD OR CRYPTOCURRENCY?
Japan: As of April 1, Bitcoin, a form of digital currency and electronic payment system, will be officially recognized as a legal form of payment in Japan. Vox offers this set of Bitcoin explainer “cards” to help understand both what it is, and how it works.
BREXIT: THE FATE OF THIS FAMOUS ROCK NOW HANGS IN THE BALANCE
Gibraltar: Now that the U.K. has officially filed for divorce from the European Union, the difficult and complicated work of agreeing on the terms of the split has begun — with Gibraltar front and center in the role of child-pawn. The Guardian offers a thorough look at the story here.
THIS WEEK, ON “HOARDING: BURIED ALIVE,” WE MEET THE HUMANS OF EARTH
The world: In this article from Slate, you can read about how human consumerism and need for material goods is leading to the creation of an actual geological layer of “technofossils,” and how our man-made technosphere can — and should — be made to function more like the earth’s naturally recycling spheres (biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, etc.) for our long-term survival.
YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE
The Internet: Gizmodo writer Ashley Feinberg managed to track down FBI Director James Comey’s secret (not any more…) Twitter and Instagram accounts, and she didn’t even have to buy his browser history to do it. Check here for this educational, entertaining and ultimately sobering read.
AND SPEAKING OF BROWSER HISTORIES …
U.S.: If you’re like the rest of us and are concerned about Congress’ recent decision to repeal the only rules that prevented Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from selling an individual’s entire web browsing history to anyone who wants to pay for it, this piece in Quartz provides detailed information on how it’s still possible to protect your online privacy.
MAYBE WE NEED TO RE-THINK THE WHOLE ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS HIERARCHY
YouTube: If you’re in the mood for a little distraction, check out this video we found on digg of a rotary tool with a paper “blade” cutting through just about everything.
YOU’VE GOT CHICKEN
New Zealand: In an attempt to stem it’s huge losses as the postal mail industry world-wide continues in steep decline, New Zealand Post has partnered with KFC in a pilot scheme that aims to diversify the service — and ensure that an apparent Kiwi appetite for fried chicken is satisfied. Read all about NZ Post’s plan to deliver KFC in The Guardian.
FIRST, WE SALTED CARAMEL. NOW IT’S … DOORKNOBS?
Edmonton, Alberta: Researchers at the University of Alberta, based on a tip from grad student and former butcher Brayden Whitlock, have found that salt is more effective than copper at killing the antibiotic-resistant super bug Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) . Copper, which has natural anti-microbial properties, is increasingly used to coat frequently handled surfaces such as door knobs and bed rails in hospitals, in an effort to stem the spread of deadly, drug-resistant pathogens. But the new research suggests that salt would be a better choice. Click the link to read the full story in The Atlantic.
