If there was one thing that never failed to disappoint this year, it was the series of spectacles happening above us. It seemed like almost every month, we were looking up at another supermoon (they're really not that common) or an Instagram-worthy meteor shower. Who needs tickets to Electric Zoo when you can catch a free midnight light show?
While 2017 isn't lined up to have as many spectacles as this past year, there is one event that is likely to outshine all the rest: A total solar eclipse. Seriously — people have been talking about this for years. Now is the time to start thinking about where you want to be when the epic scene takes shape this summer.
There will also be other eclipses, meteor showers, and full moons you won't want to miss. And some of these happen soon. Ahead, your guide to the best astronomical events happening next year. The sky's the limit.
This piece was originally published on December 27, 2016.
The Quadrantids Meteor Shower
When: The night of January 3 into the morning of January 4
Why It Matters: Not all meteor showers are visible in the Northern Hemisphere, but this one is! Head outdoors before dawn for an early 2017 light show, with 100 or more meteors shooting through the sky each hour. And you thought the celebrations ended on New Year's Eve.
Photo: Donovan Shortey/Flickr.
A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
When: February 11, 2017
Why It Matters: The next total lunar eclipse, which happens when the earth passes between the moon and the sun, won’t happen until January 2018, but we will be treated to one penumbral, or partial, lunar eclipse in 2017. As with the penumbral eclipse that occurred this past September, the moon may appear slightly darker than usual.
Photo: Fachrul Reza/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
An Annular Solar Eclipse
When: February 26, 2017
Why It Matters: If you've heard the term "ring of fire," people are likely referring to the phenomenon that is an annular solar eclipse, and not the Johnny Cash song. This effect is produced when the moon passes by, but does not completely cover, the sun. Unless you're planning on being in South America, Africa, or Antarctica, though, you won't see this one occur. You will get to see the next eclipse, though, which will be most spectacular one of the year.
Why It Matters: This will be the biggest astronomical event of 2017. While a total solar eclipse takes place every year or two (one occurred this past March), we can't always see it here in the U.S. But this August, that will be the case for the first time in 99 years, as the sun, earth, and moon completely align. Go ahead and put in your vacation day request now. But if you do plan on looking up, make sure you get appropriate eye protection.
Why It Matters: 2016 was a super year for super full moons. Not only did we get three right in a row (October, November, and December), we also saw the closest full moon in decades. While experts disagree on the distance required to make one moon qualify as supermoon versus another, 2017 isn't likely to have as many as 2016. The only super full moon of the year (there will be a couple of super new moons) occurs an entire year from now, in December 2016.
Photo: Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images.
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Those that look to the stars for meaning will not have to look far on August 21, 2017. That's because the first total solar eclipse since 1979 will take place across the United States. Millions of Americans will be able to drive to a point at which they'll be able to see the sun disappear and everyone will see at least a partial eclipse.
"August 21, 2017, may turn out to be the most popular vacation-day request in history," Michael Bakich writes in Astronomy magazine.
"The sun will disappear for about 2½ minutes, beginning in Oregon about 10:15 a.m. local time; the phenomenon will move eastward, ending an hour and a half later in South Carolina. In between, the eclipse will be visible from Grand Teton and the Great Smoky Mountains national parks, from St. Louis and Kansas City and Charleston, S.C., and all points in between."
The eclipse's path will travel from the northwest to the southeast; you can view the exact path of the phenomenon here. Perhaps the coolest aspect of the eclipse will be the color it bathes everything in. Essentially, the light will be equivalent to a 360-degree sunset. A super-magic-hour, if you will.
Head here to find out what you'll see based on your zip code.
If you want to tempt madness and look directly at the eclipse, make sure you have proper eyewear. The only time it's safe to look directly at the sky, minus specs, is at the moment of totality.
These days, finding accommodation ahead of your trip is a piece of cake: A huge collection of travel booking sites can get you a hotel reservation in a matter of seconds, and then there's Airbnb. However, for the growing population of women traveling alone, booking a room on home-sharing platforms may not be a choice they're always comfortable with. That's because staying at a place managed by someone you don't know poses a certain level of risk, perceived or otherwise.
If you happen to have similar concerns, you might want to look into Overnight, a fledging home-sharing marketplace that has just launched a feature catering to female travelers. The platform itself is not unlike Airbnb — its search bar and listings layout feel very familiar — but it's the new partnership with Girls LOVE Travel, a Facebook group for travel-loving women that will make all the difference.
"We want to provide a platform for people to find other people they are connected to in a social network and stay with them that way," says Asher Hunt, CEO and founder of Overnight.
The Facebook group was founded by Haley Woods in 2015 and has since grown its membership to over 413,000 women. According to Woods, it's an active community aiming to "provide resources and empowerment to one another through safety, socializing and support." The discussion threads within the group runs the gamut of travel-related topics, from destination recommendations to SOS calls when a member runs into troubles abroad.
Once you're a part of Girls LOVE Travel, you'll gain access to a special discount on a curated selection of listings on Overnight, ranging from 30% to 80% off. Some of these homes are listed exclusively for women belonging to the group by fellow members.
"Private groups are more trusted than an open marketplace, and hosts are able to set exclusive prices to their network. And then there's also the aspect of support of being in a group," explained Hunt. A number of hosts offer a generous discount to their fellow travelers: We were able to find rooms going for as low as $10 a night, listed at 80% off for GLT members.
Overnight has a strong presence in the United States and Europe; it has currently expanded to 110 countries. Hunt claims that a vast portion of its listing inventory is exclusive to Overnight, but the site enables calendar synching with Airbnb, which means that homes available on both platforms will get their availabilities updated instantly to avoid overbooking.
So, what does it take to be a part of the Facebook group? It's actually relatively simple — you just need to click "join," and one of the moderators will offer their approval on the condition that you identify as female. Even if you’re not looking to try Overnight just yet, joining the Facebook community of like-minded travelers may bring you a few new friendships and potential travel buddies down the line.
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This coming Monday, August 21, a dark shadow will be cast across the United States. Apocalyptic overtones aside: No matter where you are, you will see a solar eclipse, though the completion of that eclipse will vary by city.
Most of the country will see a partial eclipse; those lucky enough to live or travel to a city that falls within the narrow path of totality, which stretches in an arc from Oregon to South Carolina, will see the moon completely cover the sun for two minutes and 40 seconds. If you're in that path, you'll also see what scientists describe as the diamond ring effect: The moment immediately before the moon fully covers the sun, when there is a faint ring of light and final flash of the sun. Either way though, you'll need to wear solar eclipse glasses if you're planning to observe.
To fully prepare, you'll need to watch a few things: The weather (clouds could get in the way of your views), the traffic if you're traveling, and the time that the eclipse will hit your region. Here's how to keep an eye on all three.
Track Traffic
The Federal High Administration estimates that about 200 million people live within a day's drive of the eclipse. This means that you can expect traffic jams on par with the usual packed state of L.A. roads — or worse. The FHA advises people to be at their viewing location at least a few hours prior to the beginning of the partial eclipse, noting that many state and local authorities will be setting up roadblocks.
Expect that traffic will be at its worst right after the moment of totality: Just like at the end of a big concert or conclusion of fourth of July fireworks, everyone will look to make a quick exit.
Head here to see the FHA's eclipse map, with detailed information about viewing locations in each of the states that falls within the path of totality.
Watch The Weather
As we get closer to the eclipse, head to the National Weather Service's eclipse website for updates on what the weather will be in your area. If there's a thunderstorm, your view could be obstructed.
Know Where & When You'll See The Eclipse
There are multiple ways to track when the eclipse will occur in your region. On your phone, three apps use your location to tell you exactly when a partial or total eclipse will begin: Timeanddate.com's Solar Eclipse 2017, the Smithsonian Eclipse 2017, and Eclipse Safari.
All of the apps are free, but for $0.99 you can upgrade to a premium version of Timeanddate.com's app which will include additional details — such as when the eclipse will reach its peak in your area. It's worth it if you want to know the best time to head outside. Interactive maps in each of the apps will also give you a sense of how the eclipse will look based on where you are.
Online, there are a few interactive maps worth using. The Eclipse Megamovie 2017 Simulator — a joint project between Google and The University of California, Berkeley — is one of the best. Simply punch in your town or zip code, and the corresponding infographic will adjust to show you when the moon will partially or totally cover the sun. This interactive Google Map and interactive eclipse "tour" from the Great American Eclipse are also useful tools. NASA's video (below) offers a view of the eclipse's path as it moves from west to east across the U.S.
Being stranded at the airport is a travel purgatory we wouldn't wish on our worst enemies, and yet, every person is bound to be in this situation at some point. Whether you're experiencing severe delays, or had your flight completely canceled, the best course of action is to find out whether you'll be entitled to compensation. You'll probably feel like freaking out to your family over the phone or scowling at the gate agent, but that's unfortunately not going to do you any good.
Pursuing compensation with an airline is a long and arduous process. After the frustration of having this throw a wrench in your travel plans, it's probably the last thing you want to deal with. Being put on hold for hours on end over the phone is to be expected. And even when you get through to a customer service personnel, it may be months before you even see your check in the mail.
If the procedures sounds really daunting to you, Airhelp is just be what the doctor ordered. The startup acts on your behalf to help coordinate the compensation case with the airlines, helping them receive an average of $450 per successful claim. All you'll need to do is enter your flight details and scan your boarding pass.
To help you figure out if this is the right course of action for you, we've put together a lowdown on the app.
Know If You're Eligible Airhelp provides assistance with lawful claims for flight delays and cancellations for flights within the last three years. For flight delays on trips to and from EU countries, you may be eligible for a rectification for up to $600. Things are bleaker if you're delayed on U.S. soil: According to Scott Ginsberg, brand manager for Airhelp, airlines are only required to compensate you for delays on the tarmac. At any rate, the app offers a free feature to check your eligibility, so it may be worth downloading on your phone before a trip.
Photo: Courtesy of Airhelp.
How The App Works There's a legal staff of 60 people at Airhelp specializing in aviation laws in 30 countries. With 300 claims agents in the operations department, they work round the clock on calling the airlines on your behalf, explaining the situation and going through all the data points of what the claim is going to be in your jurisdiction. They're also responsible for keeping the customers in the loop in every step of the way, until the money is transferred to your account.
Beware Of Vouchers To get someone to voluntarily give up their seat on an overbooked flight, vouchers are typically offered an incentive. It's enticing to see the prize gets raised again and again, but you should think twice before gleefully taking up on their offer. "Your acceptance can potentially waive your rights to any further compensation," says Ginsberg. "Upon your acceptance, your name may be added to a database preventing you from making a successful claim in the future."
How Much It Costs The company charges 25% of your compensation for cases that go through successfully. This may seem like a lot, but if you're the type of person that dreads waiting on the phone or wouldn't file a claim at all — this could be a small price to pay to eliminate the headache.
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If your DMs have been getting a bit boring and stickers feeling a little stale, Instagram's latest update should spice them up.
Beginning today, you'll be able reply to a photo or video in your DMs with a photo or video of your own, which will include a sticker of what you're replying to. So, if it's a photo of a cute puppy you're fawning over, your reply will have a sticker of that cute puppy. If it's an ice cream cone, you'll get a sticker of that cone. And so on, and so forth — you get the picture.
As The Verge points out, the inclusion of the sticker ensures there's no confusion over what your photo is being sent in reply to. Simply tap "reply" to turn on the camera. The sticker will appear as a small rectangular icon in the upper right hand corner, which you can then move around, resize, and draw on as you see fit. You can't get rid of it, but if you really don't want it on screen you can move it to the edge so that it (almost) completely disappears.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram.
The true genius of today's update, however, is a new split screen reply mode. Follow the same process above, tapping "reply" to turn on your camera. This time, instead of moving around the sticker that appears, tap it once to activate the split-screen.
There's room for all sorts of ridiculousness — and some creativity, too — with this option. It all depends on how you position yourself in the photo, as the example below shows. You can also draw and add stickers, per usual.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram.
If you're not a fan of the split-screen, just tap the sticker to revert it to its original size. The only downside is that you don't seem to be able to control what appears on the top and bottom of the split screen — whatever you are replying to will always be in the upper portion. In the example above, that means that while you can't have a puppy's body, you can most certainly have its head.
This split-screen format mirrors the one the app is testing with its new two person live stream; we're officially at the "let's go halfsies" part of the Instagram era.
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If a picture says a thousand words, then an emoji says a million. That’s why we were so excited when Google announced its newest addition to the Unicode emoticon universe: emojis depicting women in seemingly every career under the sun, including a mechanic, a farmer, and a rock star (but of course).
As it turns out, we weren’t the only ones jazzed for Google’s creations. The group of professional-women emojis has been nominated for a Beazley Design of the Year Award by the Design Museum in London. Yes, you may applaud for the emojis now.
Image: Courtesy of Google.
The line of 11 emojis was created last year by Google employees Agustin Fonts, Rachel Been, Mark Davis, Nicole Bleuel, and Chang Yang. When the company first announced the new kickass lady emojis, Google said they were created to represent “a wide range of professions for women and men with a goal of highlighting the diversity of women’s careers and empowering girls everywhere.”
And that they did. A few others in the group include a businesswoman, doctor, nurse, scientist, graduate, software engineer, and a tech worker. Before these adorable and empowering images were available, emoji keyboards were under harsh scrutiny for only showing girls engaging in gendered activities, like being a princess or dancer. While there’s nothing wrong with a good tiara or tutu, it sent a limiting message to young women and girls. “We believe this will empower young women (the heaviest emoji users), and better reflect the pivotal roles women play in the world,” Google said of the debut.
The emojis were nominated in the digital category for the Design of the Year Awards. While they face some pretty tough competition (Pokémon Go is nominated in the same category), there's no denying how game-changing they are.
The winner of best digital design will be announced on January 25, 2018. According to the Design Museum’s website, public voting will begin in October (you can vote, too!), and a vote from design professionals will follow to determine the winner. We’re rooting for these empowering little ladies to take home the prize!
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The tech giants of Silicon Valley may not see eye to eye on every issue, but when it comes to speaking out against the violence in Charlottesville and taking action against racist groups on their platforms — their stance is a unified one. In the fallout of the past weekend's events, Google, Microsoft, and other companies have moved to re-emphasize zero tolerance policies for hate speech, violence, and racism.
This unified stance is a crucial one, because ridding the internet of organizations that promote racism cannot be done by one tech company alone: It requires a group effort, and shared standards, to deny these extremist groups a platform online. (Even the hacker activist group Anonymous has gotten involved, reportedly shutting down neo-Nazi and KKK websites.)
Ahead, a breakdown of how their actions have unfolded in the days following Saturday's violence in Charlottesville.
Lyft
In an email to employees that was shared with Refinery29, Lyft's cofounders, John Zimmer and Logan Green, strongly condemned the violence Charlottesville:
"We are sickened by these events. We envision a world where everyone can belong, where individuals are safe and supported no matter who they are. These events are a sobering reminder that we all have a lot of work to do to ensure this becomes a reality. Hurtful rhetoric and actions impact us all, and we know some members of our community grapple with these issues everyday. This type of hate, in any form, has no place in our society."
On Tuesday, August 15, Forward, Lyft's black employee resource group, held a roundtable open to everyone to discuss ways to provide support.
Uber
Uber entered the conversation on Friday, when alt-right personality Baked Alaska tweeted he was kicked out of an Uber by the driver for being racist. He alleged he had been "sleeping in the backseat."
Upon looking into the issue and contacting the driver, Uber confirmed she had ended the ride because of disrespectful remarks — something that violates the service's Community Guidelines — which made her feel afraid. Uber permanently banned the ride who booked the trip, alt-right leader James Allsup.
"The events surrounding the white supremacist rally in the City of Charlottesville are deeply disturbing and tragic," an Uber spokesperson said. "We stand against this hate, violence, and discrimination."
GoDaddy
On Sunday evening, GoDaddy took action against neo-Nazi site The Daily Stormer, tweeting that the site had violated its terms of service and had 24 hours to find another provider. The tweet was posted in reply to a tweet from Sleeping Giants, a social media activism group, which requested GoDaddy "reconsider doing business" with The Daily Stormer. Included in the tweet was a screenshot of an article on the site that attacked and mocked Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old who was killed while protesting Saturday's white supremacy rally.
We informed The Daily Stormer that they have 24 hours to move the domain to another provider, as they have violated our terms of service.
When The Daily Stormer attempted to move their domain to Google, the search engine blocked it. “We are cancelling Daily Stormer’s registration with Google Domains for violating our terms of service," a Google spokesperson said.
Google confirmed that The Daily Stormer's YouTube account has also been terminated. Head to the page now and you'll see the following message along the top of the page: "This account has been terminated due to multiple or severe violations of YouTube's policy prohibiting hate speech."
Facebook
The end of Daily Stormer's domain didn't mean the article attacking Heyer disappeared immediately — as of Sunday, it had been shared 65,000 times on Facebook.
also if ur wondering how garbage like daily stormer is disseminated, that story has 65 THOUSAND shares on @facebook & is listed under news. pic.twitter.com/KykJOjPbq8
Facebook has since taken steps to remove all shares of the article, except those with a caption condemning it. Additional accounts on Facebook and Instagram that have been removed for violating hate speech policies include Physical Removal, Awakened Masses, White Nationalists United, Vanguard America, Genuine Donald Trump, Awakening Red Pill, Right Wing Death Squad, and Right Winged Knight.
An event page for Saturday's Unite the Right rally was taken down over the weekend, but was allowed to exist before then because Facebook's Community Standards permit the organization of peaceful protests.
Cloudflare
In a transparent blog post addressing content policing and issues of free speech, Matthew Prince, the CEO of content delivery network Cloudflare, explained the company's decision to terminate The Daily Stormer's domain.
"The tipping point for us making this decision was that the team behind Daily Stormer made the claim that we were secretly supporters of their ideology," Prince wrote. "Our team has been thorough and have had thoughtful discussions for years about what the right policy was on censoring. Like a lot of people, we’ve felt angry at these hateful people for a long time but we have followed the law and remained content neutral as a network. We could not remain neutral after these claims of secret support by Cloudflare."
Reddit
According to CNET, Reddit has banned the subreddit, r/Physical_Removal, after other subreddits urged the site to do so. Physical Removal, a group known for promoting racist ideologies, was also banned on Facebook.
Intel
Intel CEO Brian Krzanich was one of four prominent CEOs to leave Donald Trump's American Manufacturing Council yesterday. He joined CEOs from Under Armour and Merck as well as the head of the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
"I have already made clear my abhorrence at the recent hate-spawned violence in Charlottesville, and earlier today I called on all leaders to condemn the white supremacists and their ilk who marched and committed violence," Krzanich wrote in blog post about his decision. "I resigned because I want to make progress, while many in Washington seem more concerned with attacking anyone who disagrees with them."
Microsoft
After the November 2016 presidential election, many CEOs sent their employees messages of hope that reaffirmed the importance of diversity and inclusion. Yesterday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella echoed these sentiments once again in an email sent in response to the weekend's violence.
"What I’ve seen and read has had a profound impact on me and I am sure for many of you as well. In these times, to me only two things really matter as a leader. The first is that we stand for our timeless values, which include diversity and inclusion. There is no place in our society for the bias, bigotry and senseless violence we witnessed this weekend in Virginia provoked by white nationalists. Our hearts go out to the families and everyone impacted by the Charlottesville tragedy. The second is that we empathize with the hurt happening around us."
Apple
While Apple has not issued any official statement or company policies regarding Saturday's events, CEO Tim Cook took to Twitter with two powerful messages condemning what took place.
Heartbreaking scenes in #Charlottesville. Violence and racism have no place in America.
Recode also acquired an email Cook reportedly sent to employees, in which he disagreed with President Trump's recent press conference remarks:
"We must not witness or permit such hate and bigotry in our country, and we must be unequivocal about it. This is not about the left or the right, conservative or liberal. It is about human decency and morality. I disagree with the president and others who believe that there is a moral equivalence between white supremacists and Nazis, and those who oppose them by standing up for human rights. Equating the two runs counter to our ideals as Americans."
Cook added, "Apple will be making contributions of $1 million each to the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. We will also match two-for-one our employees’ donations to these and several other human rights groups, between now and September 30."
Buzzfeed confirmed that Apple has disabled Apple Pay on sites selling clothes with the "White Pride" slogans and Nazi symbols.
GoFundMe
Reuters reported that GoFundMe has shut down multiple attempts to raise money for James Fields' legal defense. Fields is the man accused of driving his car into the crowd counter-protestors at Saturday's rally.
Meanwhile, the site has been active in tweeting about campaigns supporting those who were injured in the attack.
PayPal issued a statement yesterday, noting that any efforts by individuals or groups to promote hate, racism, and violence are forbidden by the site's Acceptable Use Policy. However, it also noted the challenges of moderating while allowing free speech and open dialogue.
"The events in Charlottesville are yet another disturbing example of the many forms that racism and hatred manifest," Franz Paasche, SVP Corporate Affairs & Communications, at PayPal wrote. "Prejudice, however, does not always march in the street. Intolerance can take on a range of on-line and off-line forms, across a wide array of content and language. It is with this backdrop that PayPal strives to navigate the balance between freedom of expression and open dialogue -- and the limiting and closing of sites that accept payments or raise funds to promote hate, violence and intolerance."
Ensuring that hate speech and violence have no place anywhere, both online and off, will be an ongoing challenge and one that requires constant monitoring of what is posted and how it is shared. For major tech companies, maintaining and enforcing community policies of what is and is not acceptable on their platforms will remain an important task.
Spotify
Vulture reported that the music service has removed white supremacist bands in response to article on Digital Music News. The article revealed not only a number of hate bands but also the ease with which they were found.
This piece has been updated to include actions taken by Lyft, Reddit, Paypal, Cloudflare, and Spotify, as well as additional actions taken by Apple.
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Several cities and states are considering levying a tax on streaming entertainment services to help make up for declining sales taxes and other revenue losses, USA Today reports.
We know, we know: The struggle to pay your monthly bills is already all too real.
Here's how the proposed new fees could affect you — or, perhaps, do already.
So, what exactly is a "Netflix tax"?
It's a small fee, typically less than $1 per month (though it could add up to more than $50 a year if you subscribe to multiple streaming services), that's tacked on to your streaming subscriptions.
Why are state and municipal governments instituting or considering these taxes?
In a nutshell, fewer people are subscribing to cable or renting videos (RIP, Blockbuster), and the governments are looking to make up for revenue from cable-bill and sales taxes.
"The way, particularly, municipalities rationalize this is, 'Well, we don’t have Blockbuster Video anymore. We were charging them tax, that's [gotten] replaced by streaming services like Netflix, so for us it's really just replacing one tax with another for the exact same service,'" Larry Downes, project director of Georgetown University's Center for Business and Public Policy, told USA Today.
Which states and cities already tax streaming services?
According to USA Today, Chicago, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington all already tax streaming entertainment. In Chicago, it amounts to about $10.79 a year for a typical Netflix or Spotify subscriber.
Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, West Virginia, and the California city of Pasadena have all considered various forms of taxing streaming and digital entertainment.
Is there any opposition to these taxes?
Lots of it. Netflix itself, government officials, trade organizations, and taxpayers have all spoken out against the fees, with some citing federal law. Opposition has helped nix the tax in at least one state; Kentucky started taxing Netflix in 2015, but a state court ruled that the state can't treat the digital-streaming service the same way it would traditional pay-TV services.
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When someone passes away, there are many logistics to deal with that make the mourning process even more complicated than it already is. One of the more recent complications relates to our online presence and social media accounts: What should happen to those things when we die?
This is the issue Facebook is addressing today in a personal blog post about how it deals with someone’s account after they die, and the challenges that can arise in trying to take the "right" measures. Monika Bickert, Facebook’s Director of Global Policy Management, wrote the post as part of “Hard Questions,” a conversation board of sorts that the company launched this past June to “talk more openly about some complex subjects.” Today’s memorialization post is the third in the ongoing series — the first was a post on countering terrorism, and the second was a timely discussion about how Facebook handles hate speech.
Bickert writes her personal experience: In the post "What should happen to people’s online identity when they die?," she recounts the days following the death of her husband.
“For months after Phil died, I’d cry when I’d receive an Amazon email prompting him to order his regular shipment of secondhand detective novels, or a message from his pharmacy cheerfully reminding him that his chemotherapy was ready for pickup,” Bickert writes. “Even now, I pause whenever I log into Facebook and see a post of mine resurfaced from years ago. I worry it will be one of the many I shared with friends over the course of Phil’s battle with cancer, detailing his progress and hinting at our naïve faith that he would continue to beat the odds.”
Bickert notes the challenging duality to digital assets in death: On the one hand, having someone’s Instagram, Facebook, and other social media accounts means we'll have access to far more pictures and memories than we would have otherwise. But resurfacing those photos and posts can also make mourning more painful.
When someone passes away, there are currently two options for how to handle their Facebook account. If you can provide documentation that you are a family member — with a birth certificate, estate letter, or other verifiable means — as well as an obituary or memorial card, you can ask that the account be removed completely. If you prefer the account be memorialized, you can submit a memorialization request. A memorialized account remains on Facebook with all of the content posted before the person’s passing visible. However, the word “remembering” is included by the person’s name to indicate that they are no longer living. Memorialized profiles don’t appear in what Facebook deems “public spaces” — you will never see a birthday reminder or friend suggestion for the deceased.
In all cases, Bickert explains in the post, Facebook attempts to make decisions that respect what the deceased would have wanted for their account. But there's an element that's somewhat similar to the challenges of traditional funeral rites: “Sometimes, however, we simply don’t know what the person would have wanted,” she writes. “If a bereaved spouse asks us to add her as a friend to her late husband’s profile so she can see his photos and posts, how do we know if that’s what her husband would have wanted? Is there a reason they were not previously Facebook friends? Does it mean something if she had sent him a friend request when he was alive and he had rejected it? What if the wife had simply never been on Facebook until after her husband’s death?”
The list of complications goes on and on, including questions around what to do if one family member wants an account memorialized, while another wishes it be taken down. There's also the question of what to do with someone’s private messages (even if a parent requests these, The Electronic Communications Privacy Act and Stored Communications Act, prevents Facebook from sharing them).
The latter is an exception: In many cases, there aren’t laws around digital assets of the deceased. “Despite our efforts to respect the wishes of those who pass away and those who survive them, we still encounter difficult situations where we end up disappointing people,” Bickert writes. All of this is to say that there is no “right” way to deal with the accounts of those who have passed away, and until there are laws, these conversations continue to evolve.
The best option is to approach your Facebook account as you would approach the creation of a will. The social media platform’s version of legacy estate handling is referred to as a legacy contact. Assigning a trusted friend or family member as your legacy contact will give them some management controls over your profile whenever you pass away. That person still has some restrictions: They can’t remove friends, read messages, delete past posts and photos, and log into the account.
"What’s important to me is that people know they have options and that if they use a legacy contact, then they can make choices now that will make things easier for those they leave behind if they pass away,” Bickert told Refinery29.
As inconsequential as it might sound now, your social media accounts will be one of the most visible and connected elements you leave behind after passing away. If you’re going to take the time to do formal estate planning, you might as well take a few minutes to consider your social profiles, too.
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On August 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible in the United States for the first time in 99 years and it is going to be a sight to behold. If you want to catch a glimpse of the event, it's pretty late in the game to start planning. Many astrology lovers have already committed to a three-day weekend and traveling to a spot that falls within the narrow path of totality, where you will see the full effect of the eclipse as the moon completely covers the sun.
According to Space.com, the eclipse's path will begin in Oregon, and end in South Carolina, passing through Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. The most ideal spots for viewing the eclipse are along that path, in the areas where the period of totality lasts the longest. NASA has mapped out those locations on an interactive Google map here.
The Great American Eclipse recommends 10 spots along the path for camping out to watch the main event: Madras, Oregon; Snake River Valley, Idaho; Casper, Wyoming; the Sandhills of western Nebraska; St. Joseph, Missouri; Carbondale, Illinois; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and Columbia, South Carolina.
Unfortunately, many of the hotels in the smaller towns have been fully booked for months, and many special events have long sold out. But, not all hope is lost — if you happen to be in the vicinity of the five destinations below, which still have availability for lodging or events. Just remember to grab a pair of certified glasses to protect your eyes if you do plan on watching the spectacle.
Greenville, SC The total eclipse is expected to reach its peak in Greenville at 2:30p.m. The Roper Mountain Science Center has the 8th largest telescope in the nation, and will be hosting a major eclipse viewing extravaganza in its planetarium. Furman University is also opening its campus for a special viewing presentation accompanied by musical performances and free swag. There will also be an educational discussion led by physics professor David Moffatt.
Lincoln, NE Nebraska’s capital city is in the path for prime viewing of the total solar eclipse. If you happen to be in the area, head to The Graduate Lincoln, an elegant 16-story hotel located in the Haymarket District in downtown Lincoln. The city's green landscapes and parklands will make a phenomenal complement to the celestial event.
Bowling Green, KY Sports fans in the area will get a unique opportunity to ring in the natural wonder — while watching a baseball game. There will be a match between The Hot Rods and West Michigan Whitecaps at the Bowling Green Ballpark at 10:35 a.m., and is expected to still be going on at the time of the eclipse. Complimentary safety glasses will be distributed to the first 2,000 fans.
Concord, NC If you're planning on catching the eclipse with the fam, hanging out at an indoor waterpark resort will be a pretty fun way to do it. The Great Wolf Lodge location in Concord, NC is aligned with the path of totality. Get your learn on with a series of fun and educational activities hosted by the hotel, including outdoor glow pool parties, space bingo, and small experiments about the eclipse.
Bend, Oregon Bend will be one of the first destinations on the U.S. mainland to enjoy the total solar eclipse at shortly after 10:15 a.m. Unsurprisingly, most of the hotels are already fully booked months in advance. Luckily, there are still some availability at SpringHill Suites, and they will be offering its guests a private, customised tour with Wanderlust Tours. The three-day itinerary includes volcano tours, lessons on eclipse photography, and an early morning hike to the ridge of a mountain outside of Bend for the actual eclipse. Talk about celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime natural occurrence with a bang.
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Snapchat is putting its own playfully pun-ny spin on the total solar eclipse. Come Monday, August 21, you'll see a slew of exclusive eclipse features on the app intended to upgrade your Snaps and also give you a sneak peek at activities taking place across the country.
All users will have access to new, eclipse-themed stickers in the sticker drawer, including everything from slogans ("we're here!") to safety-certified eclipse glasses. Those in select locations, including spots within the narrow path of totality, will have access to special geofilters. Some of these depict the moon as a feisty character about to "throw shade" on a terrified sun.
Courtesy of Snapchat.Courtesy of Snapchat.Courtesy of Snapchat.
Snapchat is also debuting a brand new element on Snap Map, the app's interactive, real-time geolocation tool: Event-affiliated Actionmoji. As a quick refresher, users who choose to go public on the map are represented by their Bitmoji. Snapchat uses what it calls Actionmoji to make fun inferences about what someone is doing in a certain location — if you're in the air, for example, your Bitmoji will appear in a plane. For the eclipse, anyone who is public and in a state within the path of totality, will show up wearing eclipse glasses on the map. (If you don't want to be visible on the Map, tap the settings icon and activate "Ghost Mode.")
Courtesy of Snapchat.
Even if you aren't within the path of totality, it's still a good idea to open Snap Map (simply pinch your fingers on the main camera screen), since you'll get a look at what others are posting. Tap on some of the "heat" spots, indicated by brighter reds and oranges. It's likely that plenty of people in prime viewing areas will submit their Snaps to the public Story, offering you an easy way to see how the eclipse (and eclipse celebration) looks in different parts of the country.
Snapchat will also curate eclipse-related Snaps to create a "Total Solar Eclipse" Our Story on Sunday, August 20, and Monday, August 21. These will be drawn from Snaps submitted by the public, as well as NASA and the Department of Interior.
If you want more views of the Great American Eclipse, check out some of these streaming options. And, of course, find the best time to head outside in your area, eclipse glasses in hand, to see that feisty moon IRL.
If you need another reminder that today is the biggest astronomical event of the year, you need only head to Google's homepage. There, the search engine's Doodle playfully animates the total solar eclipse taking place across the country.
The Doodle jokingly depicts two aliens playing catch with the moon, which covers the sun as it's tossed back and forth above the earth. The reality is that today, for the first time in 99 years, the continental United States will be cast in shadow as the moon passes between the earth and the sun (without aliens).
Courtesy of Google.
While the majority of the country will see a partial eclipse, those within the narrow path of totality, which begins in Oregon and ends in South Carolina, will see the moon completely cover the sun for up to two minutes and 40 seconds. This all takes place in the middle of the afternoon, which can throw biological clocks out of whack: According to Google's Doodle blog, the darkness and resulting drop in temperature causes animals to think it's nighttime.
There will likely be a mass exodus from offices, as everyone heads outside to look up at the spectacle (head here to track when it's happening in your area). If you're planning on doing so, make sure you wear eclipse glasses to protect your eyes from the sun's especially strong rays. If you can't get your hands on a pair of glasses, DIY your own pinhole camera to project the event instead. Whatever you do, don't risk looking up without the proper protection. The same precautions should be applied when snapping photos. Getting it for the 'gram isn't worth damaging yourself or your camera.
You can also stream the eclipse live from NASA, CNN, and other outlets, and catch on-the-ground footage through Snapchat's Snap Map and special Our Story.
However you choose to watch today's eclipse, take a few moments to appreciate that it is a rare, out-of-this world occurrence...even without Google's aliens playing a part.
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In just two weeks, the most exciting celestial event of the century, the total solar eclipse, will finally take place. It's the Great American Eclipse, and it hasn't occurred since 1918.
If you live in one of the states in the narrow path of totality, you'll see all the action. But even if not, you'll still see a stunning partial eclipse. Either way, you might want to capture the moment on August 21. (You can find out when it'll cross your zip code here.)
Whether you plan to take photos with you iPhone or DSLR, these are the rules to follow to get the perfect shot.
If You're Using Your iPhone
Believe it or not, you don't need fancy equipment to get a cool shot of the eclipse. To take a photo with your iPhone or other smartphone, astrophotographer Andrew Symes advises placing a pair of eclipse glasses in front of the camera lens for protection. Before doing so, wipe off your lens to make sure there are no finger smudges to get in the way of a clear shot.
Consider setting your phone up on a small tripod to ensure that shaky hands don't get in the way of a great shot. Then, to lock focus, simply open the camera app and tap and hold the yellow square until you see "AE/AF Lock" appear in yellow along the top of the screen.
While you can play with the exposure by sliding your finger up the screen to make the scene brighter and down to make it darker, Symes says don't zoom in on the sun. Doing so can result in an overly grainy photo. Instead, make any adjustments — either zooming in or cropping — after taking the photo.
If you want more of a zoom effect, you can attach your iPhone to a telescope's eye piece, so long as it has a solar filter. Symes recommends putting your camera on burst mode and setting up a three-second delay. This way, you won't need to worry about accidentally bumping your phone when you press the shutter button. To turn on burst, tap the timer icon in the upper toolbar within the camera app and select 3s.
If You're Using A DSLR
If you're using a more advanced camera, you must purchase a special solar filter. Failure to do so puts your expensive lens — and more importantly, your eyes — at risk of getting damage by the sun's bright rays. Watch this short video for a look at what can happen to your camera if you don't use a filter.
According to Ken Sklute, a Canon Explorer of Light, and photographer Dave Henry you can use your camera's LCD display to find the best shot — but you should avoid looking through the viewfinder. If you want to make sure you have the right exposure and zoom set up ahead of time, do a trial. In the days leading up to the big event, take a few test photos of the moon to perfect your setup.
To get the lighting just right, download the LightTrac app. It will help you find the best angles to shoot at leading up to the moment of totality.
The only time that it's safe to take your solar filter off your DSLR, or your eclipse glasses off your iPhone lens, is during the moment of totality when the moon completely covers the sun. (If you're not within the narrow path of totality, they'll need to remain on during the entire eclipse). Use an app, like Solar Eclipse Timer, to know exactly when this moment will occur.
If you feeling the need to show off after take tons of gorgeous photos of the Great American Eclipse, try one of these sharing tools.
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If you're planning on watching the total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, and you haven't yet bought solar eclipse glasses or safety lenses — stop what you're doing, go online, and buy them stat. Almost all of the pairs certified by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) are sold out, save for a few options.
Unfortunately, most of the sites that still have eclipse glasses in stock will require you to buy them in bulk. You can still buy glasses with the proper safety verification — ISO 12312-2 — from American Paper Optics ($100 per pack of 25) and B&H Photo ($44.95 per pack of 10). If you want something with a bit more heft than the paper glasses, opt for a pair of Celestron EclipSmart Solar Binoculars, available at Adorama ($44.95).
Warby Parker confirmed to Refinery29 that their stores still have pairs of free glasses, which they will be distributing until they run out of stock. You can also head to one of these libraries for a free pair.
The importance of buying safety certified glasses from a reputable vendor is paramount: Fail to wear the proper eyewear when looking at the sun on eclipse day and you could suffer serious, possibly permanent eye damage. Just because you see a pair of eclipse glasses that claim to meet the proper safety standards, doesn't mean they actually do. There have been reports of fraudulent sellers, and even Amazon has issued refunds to consumers who may have purchased uncertified glasses from the site. The coffee chain Dutch Bros Coffee has also issued a recall on the glasses it gave customers. So it's worth double checking the AAS list before buying.
When you do get your hands on a pair of certified glasses, be sure to order with two- or three-day delivery to ensure your glasses arrive in time for Monday's eclipse: NASA reports the eclipse will start near Lincoln City, Oregon at 1:15 p.m. and totality — the moment when the moon completely covers the sun — will conclude near Charleston, South Carolina at 2:48 p.m. (Check out this map for more exact information on when the total solar eclipse will be visible where you are.)
Remember, your pair of regular polarized shades can handle the sun on a regular basis, but they're no match for the sun during a total eclipse. If you aren't able to get your hands on a pair of eclipse glasses in time, go the next best route and create a pinhole camera.
A shadow will fall across different parts of the country at different times. From start to finish, today's eclipse will last about four hours, with the moment of totality occurring over the course of 100 minutes. According to NASA, the eclipse will begin in Madras, Oregon, at 9:06 a.m. PDT, with totality hitting just after 10:19 a.m. PDT and lasting a little over two minutes. The eclipse will end in Columbia, South Carolina at 4:06 p.m. EDT, with totality starting there at 2:41 p.m. EDT.
The majority of the U.S. does not fall within the path of totality and will only see a partial eclipse. However, it's still worth knowing when the eclipse will cross your area so you can head outside — safety certified glasses on — to see and join in on the spectacle.
The easiest way to find out the optimal time to leave your desk is to check out NASA's interactive map. Although the map focuses on the arc formed by the path of totality, you can click on any coordinates to see when the eclipse (or partial eclipse) will begin and end, as well as when there will be "maximum eclipse" — when the moon will cover the sun the most. There's also a helpful chart here showing start and end times in some of the prime cities where totality will take place.
Before and after the eclipse covers your city in shadow, you can tune into one of multiple live streams taking place to see what it looks like. Before you go to Instagram your own experience, read up on these photography tips and how to take the proper safety measures to ensure you don't harm your lens or your eyes.
Of course, to fully take in the moment, eclipse chasers recommend putting your phone or DSLR down, and letting your eyes do all the looking.
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Reality check: If you don't live in the eclipse path, or haven't made plans to travel to one of the 14 states it will pass through on August 21, your chances of seeing it in person are pretty slim. Flight prices are skyrocketing, and hotels and campsites were fully booked months ago.
However, all hope is not lost. For starters, everyone in the U.S. who isn't within the narrow path of totality will still see a partial solar eclipse. So long as you have the proper eyewear, it's worth going outside to get a glimpse.
Second, as with any major natural phenomenon, there will be no shortage of places to watch a livestream of the event. This can't replace the real thing, of course, but it's a worthy substitute for the majority of us who can't take a vacation day to travel to Idaho Falls, Idaho, Casper, Wyoming, or one of the other major cities the eclipse will pass through.
Ahead, a complete list of every site and app where you can catch the celestial action live. We'll continue updating this list as more are announced.
Twitter Head to Twitter at noon to stream live coverage from The Weather Channel.
NASA The Great American Eclipse is the biggest astronomical event of the century, so it makes sense that NASA is going all out for it. During NASA Television's four-hour show, you'll see images of the eclipse from the vantage points of NASA aircraft, the International Space Station, and high-altitude balloons. There will also be live coverage of events being held across the country. Head here at 12 p.m. on August 21 for the full show.
The Exploratorium The San Francisco science museum will have five simultaneous lifestreams running throughout the eclipse, including a special stream with NASA scientists and a non-narrated stream showing the views from telescopes set up in Wyoming. Download the free Total Solar Eclipse app, or head here to begin watching at 12 p.m. on August 21.
ABC ABC's World News Tonight anchor David Muir will head up the network's coverage of the eclipse, which will be live between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on August 21. You can stream the show at ABCNews.com, and on ABC's Facebook and YouTube pages.
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Today, as you no doubt know by now, the continental United States is seeing a total solar eclipse cross the country for the very first time in 99 years. It is once-in-a-lifetime events like this that bring vastly different people together because we are all talking about and experiencing the same special thing at once. It gives us common ground with people we never thought we'd share anything with, and of course, we're thinking first and foremost about celebrities.
Yes, just like you and me, today, famous musicians, actors, comedians, reality TV stars, and politicians are tweeting about the scene outside their windows, using the Solar Eclipse 2017 Snapchat filters, and posing for Instagram photos in their NASA-approved eclipse glasses. It's such a special time. Kim Kardashian has grabbed her kids and is holding them close to experience the magic with her. Sarah Hyland and Elizabeth Banks have constructed viewers out of empty cereal boxes. And, Chance, the Rapper and Sarah Silverman are still looking for some help tracking down protective eyewear.
Take a look ahead to see what celebs on social media had to say about today's eclipse, and bookmark the page, so you have something to show your grandkids when they inevitably ask you what you remember about the day of the United States' 2017 Total Solar Eclipse.
As you probably already know, the great solar eclipse of 2017 made its way across the sky this afternoon. The last time a total solar eclipse passed through the entirety of the continental United States was 1918. Lucky for us, we have something this time around that didn’t exist nearly a century ago: Twitter.
The Twittersphere’s reactions to the eclipse spanned just about every emotion possible. Some people couldn’t contain their excitement about the phenomenon, while others had more tepid responses. Of course, since it’s Twitter, there were plenty of memes and GIFs to go around. We rounded up some of the best reactions to the Great American Eclipse of 2017.
The excitement began the morning of August 21, as the hours dwindled till the eclipse first passed Oregon. Everyone was preparing for the big event, and even the moon had to tweet about it.
Of course, plenty of people posted about the ways they planned to shield their eyes from the sun's concentrated rays. Some people had pretty, um, unconventional ideas in mind.
But through all of Twitter’s fun and games, some had genuine reflections on the celestial event.
No matter if you traveled to the path of totality, stood outside your office, or just pulled up the livestream, the eclipse was a pretty incredible moment. Sure, it was hilarious to talk about, but it also brought people together in a totally unique way.
