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Scientist knits technology into ultimate ugly sweaters

WASHINGTON – If you’re tired of being a perennial runner-up at your annual ugly Christmas sweater party — this story is for you.

Mark Rober, the same man who combined iPads with Halloween costumes to make it look like one’s guts are spilling out, now has lent his genius to the ugly Christmas sweater genre.

We’re talking about Mark Rober, the rocket scientist and engineer, who spent nine years at NASA focusing on the Curiosity Rover (currently exploring the surface of Mars).

He’s currently using his free time to design awesome (or hideous) yuletide pullovers.

His sweaters have a little pouch in front for inserting your smartphone. Once you’ve downloaded his app, you slide the device in place — give it a tap and presto! As their YouTube video ad says, now “you’re ready for total ugly christmas sweater party domination.”

The screen features a number of scenarios. You can have a crackling fireplace; a caroling, meowing, eye-wandering cat; a snow globe; or a creepy Santa with roving eyes.

The sweaters sell for $55 to $65, but the app is free. Click here to see the selection or watch the ad below.

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US strikes Iran and Tehran fires back as hostilities flare again

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military hit targets in Iran on Tuesday and Tehran fired missiles and drones in response as hostilities flare once again in an intermittent war that has lasted more than six months. The U.S. strikes followed others on Sunday that abruptly ended a month without military action and threatened to fully reignite a conflict that has spiked global oil prices and posed political problems for Republicans in November's midterm congressional elections. The renewed fighting comes after President Donald Trump had appeared to pivot toward trying to bend Iran to his will through economic sanctions. “If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings,” Trump warned on social media. U.S. Central Command said the latest strikes were in response to Tehran trying to attack commercial ships and American forces in the Middle East. Trump offered an additional explanation, telling Fox News in a phone call that U.S. forces struck Iran's radars.
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