Here's a story about the history of the Like button that you might like
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The internet wouldn’t be the same without the Like button, the thumbs-up icon that Facebook and other online services turned into digital catnip. Like it or not, the button has served as a creative catalyst, a dopamine delivery system, a tribal totem pole and an emotional battering ram. It also became an international tourist attraction after Facebook plastered the symbol on a giant sign on that stood outside its Silicon Valley headquarters until the company rebranded itself as Meta Platforms in 2021. A new book delves into the convoluted story behind a symbol that’s become both the manna and bane of a digitally driven society.
The Menendez brothers case reflects a shifting culture across decades
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The trials of Lyle and Erik Menendez and their conviction for killing their parents came at a time when televised trials captured national audiences in the 1990s. The brothers' resentencing Tuesday for the 1989 murder of their parents, and the possibility that they'll go free, comes at time of similar cultural obsession, reflected by true-crime documentaries and docudramas. The initial trial was the first major case aired on Court TV, and came just before the O.J. Simpson trial made televised murder trials much bigger. The Menendez brothers had mostly faded from memory, but two Netflix shows brought renewed attention to their case.
Coinbase said cyber crooks stole customer information and demanded $20 million ransom payment
Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange based in the U.S., said Thursday that criminals had improperly obtained personal data on the exchange’s customers for use in crypto-stealing scams and were demanding a $20 million payment not to publicly release the info. CEO Brian Armstrong said in a social media post that criminals had bribed some of the company’s customer service agents who live outside the U.S. to hand over personal data on customers, like names, dates of birth and partial social security numbers. Armstrong said Coinbase would not meet the ransom demand and instead would establish a fund to reward anyone who provided information that leads to the attackers’ arrest.
Endurance swimmer is attempting first-ever swim around Martha’s Vineyard ahead of ‘Jaws’ anniversary
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. (AP) — An athlete will aim to be the first person to swim around Martha's Vineyard to educate the public on sharks. Lewis Pugh is attempting the swim in 47-degree water during the start of white shark migration season. The swim is planned to correspond with the 50th anniversary of “Jaws.” The 55-year-old swimmer is specifically taking on the challenge because he wants to change public perception of the vulnerable animals. He says they were maligned by the 1975 blockbuster film as “cold-blooded killers." He'll urge for more protections for the animals while he completes the 62-mile swim in about 12 days.
Colts apologize to Tyreek Hill and Microsoft for schedule release video
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts have apologized to Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and Microsoft for a video released on social media during the NFL schedule release. The video was a spoof of the video game Minecraft, which is owned by Microsoft. It poked some fun at Hill with a dolphin wearing a No. 10 jersey with Hill's name being stopped by a U.S. Coast Guard board with a blaring siren. The post was quickly deleted. The team apologized to Microsoft, saying the clip exceeded its rights, and to Hill for what it described as a “insensitive” clip. Hill was dragged from his vehicle by Miami-Dade deputies last September, forced to the ground and handcuffed after arriving at the Dolphins’ stadium. Indy opens its season Sept. 7 against the Dolphins.
Dick's Sporting Goods to buy struggling shoe chain Foot Locker for $2.4 billion
Dick’s Sporting Goods is buying the struggling footwear chain Foot Locker for about $2.4 billion, the second buyout of a major footwear company this year as business leaders struggle with U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs. Dick’s said Thursday that it expects to run Foot Locker as a standalone unit and keep the Foot Locker brands, which includes Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, atmos and its namesake. Earlier this month Skechers announced that it was being taken private by the investment firm by 3G Capital in a transaction worth more than $9 billion.
More than 2,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code
More than 2,000 Starbucks baristas at 120 U.S. stores have gone on strike since Sunday to protest a new company dress code. The coffee giant announced last month that it was setting new limits on what baristas can wear under their green aprons. Starting Monday, employees were required to wear a solid black shirt and khaki, black or blue denim bottoms. Starbucks said the new rules would make its green aprons stand out. But a union that represents workers at 570 of Starbucks’ 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores says the dress code should be subject to bargaining. Starbucks says the strike is having a limited impact and walkouts lasted less than at hour at some locations.
DoorDash delivery driver pleads guilty to stealing $2.5 million in deliveries scam
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A former food delivery driver has pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to steal more than $2.5 million from DoorDash by getting the company to pay for deliveries that never occurred. Federal prosecutors say that Sayee Chaitanya Reddy Devagiri pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in San Jose to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They say the 30-year-old Newport Beach, California, resident admitted to working with three others in 2020 and 2021 to defraud the San Francisco-based delivery company. Devagiri faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Max streaming service is reviving the HBO name — the one it discarded two years ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery says it is changing the name of its Max streaming service to HBO Max later this summer. It represents a rare corporate do-over. Following the merger of Discovery with Warner two years ago, assets were combined in a streaming service known as Max, doing away with the HBO Max streaming brand that Warner had been using. At the time, it was considered an odd choice: HBO is widely seen as representing quality content, while Max — a reference to the Cinemax network — is less well-regarded. Advertisers told of the change at a presentation on Wednesday loudly applauded the move.
Ford recalls nearly 274,000 Navigator and Expedition SUVs due to risk of loss of brake function
NEW YORK (AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 274,000 of its Expedition and Lincoln-branded Navigator SUVs across the U.S. due to an issue that may cause a loss of brake function while driving, increasing crash risks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the front brake lines in these now-recalled cars “may be in contact” with their engine air cleaner outlet pipe due to a potential installation defect. That can result in a brake fluid leak. The recall covers 223,315 Expeditions and 50,474 Navigators between model years 2022 and 2024. Ford expects that just 1% of these vehicles have the defect. As a remedy, dealers will inspect the front brake line of impacted vehicles and replace it or the air cleaner outlet pipe if necessary — free of charge.
