Religion in the United States is worth $1.2tn a year, making it equivalent to the 15th largest national economy in the world, according to a study. The faith economy has a higher value than the combined revenues of the top 10 technology companies in the US, including Apple, Amazon and Google, says the analysis from Read more about Religion in US ‘worth more than Google and Apple combined’[…]

Threatening file-sharers with high fines or even prison sentences is not the best way to stop piracy. New research published by UK researchers shows that perceived risk has no effect on people’s file-sharing habits. Instead, the entertainment industries should focus on improving the legal options, so these can compete with file-sharing. Source: Stop Piracy? Legal Read more about Stop Piracy? Legal Alternatives Beat Legal Threats, Research Shows[…]

In 2014, San Francisco tech startup Skully raised hype and money to build a Tony Stark-style digitally augmented motorcycle helmet. Almost $2.5 million later, the company’s shutting down. Now a lawsuit from within the company gives us some hints as to why: founders allegedly blew the R&D money on lap dances and fast cars. Source: Read more about Failed HUD Helmet Maker Skully Spent Funding On Strippers And Exotic Cars: Lawsuit[…]

Ars investigates legal advice for hotspot operators—most are ill-informed; the rest invented. […] According to the experts we consulted, anyone attempting to follow the recommendations could in practice be creating data protection liabilities that they’re ill-equipped to discharge. Others may be put off altogether by dire warnings about legal risks that simply don’t exist. Source: Read more about Public Wi-Fi hotspots and you: Busting the many legal myths in the UK[…]

Hong Kong bitcoin exchange Bitfinex reported yesterday that hackers had stolen 119,756 bitcoin, which is worth as much as $72 million dollars (with some reports going even higher). News of the hack sent bitcoin tumbling 23 percent, with its current value hovering around $556. Bitfinex confirmed that no other digital currency except bitcoin was targeted Read more about Hackers Steal $72 Million in Bitcoin From Hong Kong Exchange Bitfinex[…]

In a closely watched trial by the media community, shortly after 7pm on Friday night, and less than six hours after starting deliberations, the jury sided with ex-pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and awarded him $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media. The trial lasted two weeks. The award consists of $55 million Read more about Gawker Ordered To Pay Hulk Hogan $115 Million In Sex Tape Lawsuit – wait, how much?[…]

Last year we bought 44 per second, but growth has slowed so its frowning time […] Prognostication-producers Gartner reckon the disappointing start to 2016 will continue for smartphone makers, with the year to end a mere seven per cent ahead of 2015. If it’s accurate, that would translate to 1.5 billion units for the year Read more about Humanity will only buy 47 smartphones per SECOND in 2016[…]

The world’s largest maker of TVs by shipments added new tile ads to the main menu bar of its premium TVs in the U.S. in June 2015 and is planning to expand the program to Europe in coming months, people familiar with the matter said. […] according to one of these people, and by using Read more about Samsung Adds More Ads to Its TVs[…]

So, with the Panama papers, governments are cracking down on tax dodgers. In the Netherlands the minister wants to increase the penalty for giving up your hidden funds to 300% plus back taxes plus interest. The claim is that it’s not fair, because poor people don’t have enough money to dodge taxes and so have Read more about Panama Papers – why are people hiding their money offshore anyway?[…]

The World Economic Forum expects automation and robots will eliminate 5.1 million jobs within the next five years. That’s a scary thought, especially if you have one of these jobs that could theoretically be done more efficiently (and for less cost) with an automated machine. Source: The Jobs Most Likely to Be Taken Over by Read more about The Jobs Most Likely to Be Taken Over by Robots In the Near Future[…]

A nice list! It turns out to run from around $1000 to $3000 depending on how many followers you have. Source: Here’s How Much Celebrities Make in the Instagram Product Placement Machine

And Google paid Apple $1bn to put its search into iPhones An Oracle lawyer has blurted out in court how much money Google has made from Android – figures that the web giant has fiercely fought to keep secret. And those numbers are: US$31bn in revenue, and US$22bn in profit, since 2008, when Android was Read more about Oracle blurts Google’s Android secrets in court: You made $22bn using Java, punk[…]

Dan Price decided to pay all 120 employees at least $70,000. Grown men cried. Profits soared. Then things got really crazy. Source: Here’s What Really Happened at That Company That Set a $70,000 Minimum Wage

Bitcoin transactions will be exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. Source: Bitcoin is Exempt from VAT, Rules European Court of Justice

A fascinating economic look at how drugs are sold and bought on the dark web and what their growth potential is. Source: The safe, user-friendly way to be a little drug lord: economic secrets of the dark web

Washington State just received federal funds to study a totally unique toll bridge concept, one made out of decommissioned US Navy Super Carriers. The bridge would consist of two or three carriers and would link Bremerton and Port Orchard, Washington, spanning the Sinclair Inlet. http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/how-washington-state-could-turn-aircraft-carriers-into-1696976267 apparently they are fighting an uphill battle but what an Read more about How Washington State Could Turn Aircraft Carriers Into Bridges[…]

SA 838 is a budgetary amendment which backs support for and funding of state efforts to take over federal land. It was part of a larger debate over the 2016 fiscal year federal budget. While yes, its language does note that it’s impossible to sell National Parks, National Monuments and National Preserves (which enjoy extraordinary Read more about Republican Senators Just Voted To Sell Off US National Forests[…]

Since 2002, Congress has set aside $104 billion specifically to rebuild Afghanistan. Of that, $66 billion went to the Pentagon. Recently, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction asked the military to account for all that spending. It couldn’t. According to a new report from SIGAR, the Pentagon only knows how it spent a third Read more about How the Pentagon Lost Track of $45 Billion in Afghanistan[…]

Toyota is opening the door to the hydrogen future, making available thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty free. Announced today at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, this Toyota initiative will spur development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies around the world. Toyota will invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents Read more about Toyota understands that patents stifle innovation, allows the use of Hydrogen Fuel Cell patents royalty free to foster innovation[…]

Skiplagged.com found out that you can buy a cheaper ticket from A – B if you buy a ticket to C where B is a stop on the way (A – B – C) and then just get off at B. For example, a customer buying a ticket from New York to Los Angeles, where Read more about United Airlines and Orbitz resort to suing Skiplagged.com which is better and takes advantage of airlines’ stupid fee structure[…]

Company marketed specialized computers designed to produce the cryptocurrency but delivered useless machines, according to an FTC complaint. via Bitcoin-mining company Butterfly Labs shut down by FTC – CNET.

Airpooler – an Uber for plane rides – fucked up private pilots in the US flying people to destinations for the price of fuel (and so to get their hours) by asking the FAA for clarification of a 1964 rule. The FAA clarification not only extends to ride sharing services, but also to the old Read more about FAA Bans Planesharing Startups[…]

Interestingly, recruiters spend only 6 seconds reviewing an individual resume! They spend that time looking at: Name Current title / company Previous title / company Previous position start and end dates Current position start and end dates Education If you add a picture, they spend 19% of that time looking at the picture, not the Read more about Recruiters look at your CV like this: Eye tracking study[…]