Movie magic

March 11, 2024

What was the first feature film to use computer-generated imagery, aka CGI? Was it … A.) “Star Wars: A New Hope,“ B.) “Tron,“ C.) “Westworld“ or D.) “Alien“?

The answer: C.) “Westworld.“ Released in 1973, it was the first feature film to include computer-made imagery, kicking off Hollywood’s love affair with CGI. And yes, it’s the same plot as the HBO show of the same name. Today, some movies, including “Guardians of the Galaxy,” use CGI in 90% of their shots.

Tags: computer, film, Hollywood, movie, Star Wars

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So you can stop looking out the window: The delay between you ordering your food on Uber Eats and your being able to enjoy it is about to get shorter. Uber is introducing a live location-sharing feature that should make connecting to your delivery person easier. Sweet.

10% of teens tried to lose weight using diet aids

Of course, they were pushed on social media. With names like “Nature’s Ozempic” and “Flat Tummy Tea,” these unregulated products are super risky, not to mention ineffective. Talk to the teens in your life!

Okra water is the hot new trend all over TikTok. Yep, slice up okra, let it sit in water, and then you’ve got a glass of clear goop. Folks say it makes you look younger and is loaded with vitamins. Doctors say (and I’m paraphrasing), “This is just a dumb trend.”

Millennials, watch out: New data from the FBI shows folks ages 30 to 49 are most likely to lose money to investment fraud. Oops. Social media and ads are some of the biggest ways criminals pass this stuff along. No big surprise: Crypto scams are especially lucrative.

Paws crossed: Yale scientists have a new canine cancer vax that doubles sick pups’ survival rates. It’s adapted from human treatments that use polyclonal antibodies to tackle cancer. It’s helped over 300 dogs in a study, including adorbs golden retriever Hunter, who’s been doing great for two years after his osteosarcoma diagnosis. That boy deserves a treat!

Netflix and punch: Jake Paul, internet personality and brother of YouTuber Logan Paul, is a successful boxer. One of his recent fights earned him $30 million. Now, he’s taking on Mike Tyson. Can Netflix handle all the people who tune in? We’ll see in July.

Too touchy: 97% of new cars come with touchscreens, which is handy … but distracting. AAA says messing with these screens takes your eyes off the road for 40 seconds. Starting in 2026, cars in Europe will need old-school buttons and levers instead of touchscreens to earn the highest safety ratings. Look for a similar move here in the States, too.

70% jump in views for Reels

That’s Facebook’s TikTok-style content. The bite-sized vids comprise over 30% of all videos watched on Meta’s flagship site. Users now spend half their time on Facebook watching videos. This you? I shared a tip just this week on how to cut down your screen time!

$9,200 for a misclick

The cost of one woman’s accidental 70-night hotel reservation. She realized her mistake immediately and tried to get a refund just one minute later — but no dice. So far, the booking site, her bank and the hotel have all refused to help. Never save your credit card information on third-party websites. The convenience isn’t worth the cost!

Me want power: AI and data centers munch on energy like you wouldn’t believe. In two years, they’ll consume 6% of all electricity in the U.S. Yep, that’s a lot. There are already 5,000 data centers, with more on the way.

Know your Airbnb: Picking out the best (and worst) spots on Airbnb is about to get easier. Look for labels that highlight the top 25%, top 1% and bottom 10% of properties based on ratings. No more nasty Airbnb hidden camera surprises, I hope.