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Secondhand book sales are booming. Is it because of AI?
Independent second-hand booksellers are reporting unusually large bulk orders, prompting suspicion that the books are being bought to train artificial intelligence systems rather than for readers. The trend matters because some books may be digitised through “destructive scanning”, where their spines are removed and pages scanned before the remains are recycled. The speculation follows a…
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Paul McCartney lets it be! Ex-Beatle lets grass on his 160-acre Sussex estate turn yellow as he respects hosepipe ban
Sir Paul McCartney’s 160-acre East Sussex estate has been pictured with yellowing lawns during a local hosepipe ban, suggesting he is allowing the grass to dry rather than watering it. The contrast with greener grounds at other celebrity homes has drawn attention because parts of the UK have experienced record-breaking heatwaves and water restrictions. McCartney,…
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Courtney Love reveals she “almost died” in 2019 amid promising album update
“They told me I was going to die.” The post Courtney Love reveals she “almost died” in 2019 amid promising album update first appeared on Far Out Magazine.
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Retrospec Joe Rev 2 Review (2026): Putting the ‘Joy’ in Joyride
WIRED finds Retrospec’s Joe Rev 2 to be a fun, affordable electric bike that captures the appeal of a large BMX-style cruiser for teenagers and adults. Its retro looks, simple controls and relatively low weight make it distinctive, but the review stresses that comfort, practicality and real-world range are compromises. Priced at $1,400, the 56-pound…
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Stalker 2’s imminent free update aims to make the sequel more atmospheric and less relentlessly hostile: ‘The Zone isn’t one constant gunfight’
Stalker 2 developer GSC Game World is preparing a free update designed to make the post-apocalyptic shooter feel more atmospheric and less punishing, addressing complaints that the Zone often plays as an unrelenting series of gunfights rather than the tense, exploratory survival experience fans expect from the series. The change reflects an effort to rebalance…
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Channel children at risk as Stourbridge wildfire forces evacuations
A major grass and woodland fire near Racecourse Lane and Stourbridge Golf Club spread into residential areas on 13 August, prompting a major emergency response. Around 100 firefighters were deployed, while police aviation crews supplied live aerial and thermal-imaging intelligence to help commanders track hotspots, assess vulnerable properties and direct resources. Residents and some care…
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ChainDrop worm crawls into npm supply chain, evades standard defenses
A new variant of the Shai-Hulud npm worm, dubbed ChainDrop, has compromised hundreds of software packages and introduced stealthier ways to spread. It matters because it can infect developers’ projects and automated build systems without leaving obvious malicious changes in source-code repositories, making routine reviews less effective. Researchers identified the attack on 4 August, finding…
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What to Expect in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 and its Gaming Theme
Fortnite’s Chapter 7 Season 4, titled Fortnite Override, is due to launch on 20 August after downtime, with a hacking and gaming theme. It matters because Epic Games appears to be building one of the game’s largest video-game crossover seasons yet, combining confirmed franchises with new gameplay features and potential Battle Pass content. Confirmed collaborations…
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Instapaper, the Original Read-It-Later App, Just Got a Huge Upgrade
Instapaper, a read-it-later service launched in 2008, has received a major overhaul intended to make it easier for users to manage and read saved online content. The update matters because the service is one of the longest-running tools in its category and is competing for attention as people accumulate large backlogs of articles, videos and…
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6 Best Apple Watch Accessories to Upgrade Your Watch (2026)
WIRED recommends accessories intended to improve the comfort, charging and protection of an Apple Watch. – Nike Sport Loop (£49): a soft, adjustable, reflective textile band that the reviewer finds comfortable for everyday wear and sleep tracking. – Nomad Stand One Max (£159): a compact premium stand offering fast Apple Watch charging and 25W Qi2…