Monday, June 21, 2021

Daredevil dies while attempting world-record motorcycle jump

An attempt at setting a world record for longest ramp-to-dirt motorcycle jump has reportedly ended in tragedy. The 28 years old Stuntman died while preparing for a 351-foot motorcycle jump (equivalent to the full goal post-to-goal post length of a football field) at the Moses Lake Airshow in Washington state’s Grant County International Airport. The deadly crash reportedly occurred when he landed short of the downward slope of the landing ramp on a practice run. While the bike stopped when it hit the ground, he flew over the handlebars and another 20 feet before landing. His helmet reportedly flew off during the crash. On-site medical personnel and his family reportedly responded quickly, but it took a while to get him in an ambulance. It remains unclear if he died at the site of the crash, in the ambulance or at the hospital. previously set a world record for longest dirt-to-dirt motorcycle jump with a 297-foot attempt at Horn Rapids Motorsports Complex in Richland, Washington in 2013. (Yahoo Sports)

**MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES!!**

Dozens of women sue Pornhub, alleging it published nonconsensual clips

More than 30 women are suing Pornhub, accusing it of violating federal sex trafficking laws, distributing child pornography, racketeering and other crimes. The suit alleges that Pornhub’s parent company, MindGeek and its constellation of porn brands, is a criminal enterprise that purchases, launders and uploads illegal content often obtained through human trafficking and sexual assault. The women say in their suit that MindGeek used nonconsensual content to “become the dominant online pornography company in the world.” The women were victims of sexual exploitation, rape and trafficking, and they were “victimized first by their original abuser, and then repeatedly by the defendants in this case,” the suit alleges. Pornhub denied the allegations, calling them absurd and reckless adding that its website has “the most comprehensive safeguards in user-generated platform history, which include the banning of uploads from unverified users, expanding our moderation processes, and cooperating with dozens of non-profit organizations around the world.” (NBC News)

Portland, Oregon’s police riot squad resigns after officer indicted over alleged assault on photographer

All 50 of the Portland, Oregon Police Bureau’s highly trained rapid response unit officers resigned this week after the recent indictment of one of their Officers for allegedly assaulting a photographer during an overnight riot last summer. “Unfortunately, this decorated public servant has been caught in the crossfire of agenda-driven city leaders and a politicized criminal justice system,” the Portland, Oregon Police Association said after a Multnomah County grand jury charged the officer with one count of fourth-degree assault related to the August 18, 2020, incident. A Portland Police Bureau statement indicated that the resignations were effective immediately, and it’s unclear what implications would be for law enforcement response to future demonstrations in Portland. The officers who agreed to resign will no longer work as part of the Rapid Response Team, but will remain employed by the police department, according to the police bureau. Participation in the riot team is voluntary. (Fox News)

A new problem for Peloton owners: Hacks

Peloton users are being warned of a new security threat relating to the touchscreen on their Bike+ that could potentially be controlled by hackers. Cybersecurity company McAfee discovered a vulnerability that allows hackers to access Peloton’s bike screen and potentially spy on riders using its microphone and camera. However, the threat most likely affects only the $2,495 bike used in public spaces, such as in hotels or gyms, because the hacker needs to physically access the screen using a USB drive containing a malicious code. According to McAfee’s Advanced Threat Research team, a hacker can discreetly control the stationary bike’s screen remotely and interfere with its operating system. That means hackers could, for example, install apps that look like Netflix or Spotify and steal the users’ log-in information. The cybersecurity team was able spy on users via the camera and microphone, which is normally used for video chats with other users. Internet-connected devices, whether they are bikes, computers or even refrigerators, are all susceptible to hacks. Cyberattacks have increasingly caught the public’s attention, with high-profile companies including McDonald’s, Microsoft and Electronic Arts publicly revealing recent security breaches. (CNN)

Couple says they missed $100K lottery prize due to pandemic

Des Moines, Iowa couple say they learned too late that they had a winning Powerball ticket. The husband said his wife purchased the winning lottery ticket November 26, 2019, at a QuikTrip. He said it was a chance to have $100,000, but  the lottery ticket expired November 30, 2020. They tried to claim the prize on February 8, 2021, after finding the ticket in their car. He said his wife had COVID-19 in November and that he argued for an extension with the Iowa Lottery. The Iowa Lottery did not grant extensions on claiming prize money because the organization did not close during the pandemic. The Iowa Lottery issued a statewide release about the unclaimed Powerball prize before it expired. Despite checking the winning ticket too late, they are focused on counting their blessings instead of his lottery losses and believes luck will strike again because they continue to buy lottery tickets each week. (KCCI)

Colorado Springs house deemed ‘little slice of hell’ by realtor selling for $590,000 cash

A home dubbed as “not for the faint of heart” has been listed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The dilapidated house features profane graffiti on almost every wall, soiled carpets from an illegal pet rescue run out of the residence and a broken refrigerator in the basement filled with rancid meat left more than a year earlier when the tenant was evicted. Even still, the house is listed for $590,000 cash. The listing agent said “we have an expression ‘if it smells it wont sell. I am putting that to the test.” The listing holds nothing back. In it, the listing describes the house “every landlord’s nightmare” and says it could be “your own little slice of hell.” The listing also points out that the back porch is falling off of the house and that the entire foundation sits in a “pink” zone for geological landslides. Even with the extensive damage, rancid smells and excessive profanity on the walls, the Realtor says she has received 16 written cash offers in the first 24 hours of the house being on the market. (The Denver Channel)

HBO Max Subscribers Confused & Amused By Mysterious ‘Integration Test Email # 1’

Some HBO Max subscribers received a strange email Thursday night with the subject line “Integration Test Email # 1.” The body of the email said only, “This template is used by integration tests only.” There were no attachments or images included. Given the proliferation of data breaches of late, it could have been a phishing scam. Most recipients, however, seem to have quickly realized that the missive was a mistake. And then the jokes began. Some on Twitter posited that Integration Test Email #1 was a new HBO Max show. Others imagined HBO Max’s streaming competitors quickly calling all-hands meetings to brainstorm how they could jump on the Integration Test Email #1 bandwagon. Alas, it was simply a mistake according to the official HBO Max Help Twitter feed. In fact it was, of course, an intern who goofed and sent the missive to many subscribers. “We apologize for the inconvenience,” read the HBO Max Help post, “and as the jokes pile in, yes, it was the intern. No, really. And we’re helping them through it.” (Deadline)