Jody Serrano

1 week ago | xatakaon.com | Jody Serrano

Beginning next year, people in Texas will have to show Apple and Google their IDs if they want to download any kind of app from their app stores—no exceptions. The Texas App Store Accountability Act. After being passed by the Republican super-majority in the Texas Legislature, the law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday. The law is part of a slew of efforts in Texas and across the U.S. to better protect children online.

1 week ago | xatakaon.com | Jody Serrano

Although many cities across the world have streets named after the Sun, such as Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, there are only a few that align perfectly with our closest star. Many of those chosen few are in Manhattan, which will bear witness to the solar spectacle known as “Manhattanhenge” today. Here’s what you need to know to check it out. What is Manhattanhenge? Four times a year, people in Manhattan are treated to a unique sight: a sunset that aligns perfectly with the city’s street grid.

1 week ago | xatakaon.com | Jody Serrano

During big races, there’s nearly always an unforgettable sight at the end. I’m not talking about the faces of the runners once they cross the finish line, but rather the battlefield of empty plastic cups they leave in their wake at water stations. It’s not pretty. While organizers can’t exactly stop providing water to participants, a new startup claims that they may be able to reduce the waste they generate. The idea.

1 week ago | xatakaon.com | Jody Serrano

In Bruges, a city in northwest Belgium, the hottest souvenir isn’t something as ordinary as a keychain or scrumptious Belgian chocolate—it’s a cobblestone. Yes, the same ones that you walk over in the street. And officials are pleading with tourists to please to stealing them. A memorable cobblestone. Franky Demon, Bruges’ public property councilor, recently brought attention to the issue.

1 week ago | xatakaon.com | Jody Serrano

Although its inspiration was out of this world, literally, CosMc’s didn’t have the same luck. The McDonald’s spinoff coffee shops will close after just two years on the market, though the company says some of its drinks will stick around. Goodbye, CosMc’s. McDonald’s has announced the end of CosMc’s, its standalone coffee chain that aimed to win over customers that look for a little pick-me-up in the afternoon. The coffee shop offered an extensive drink selection, as well as sandwiches and treats.