Free Republic

“Microsoft this week replaced a toy gun emoji with a real revolver in an apparent need to conform to universal emoji standards.,” Nick Statt reports for The Verge. “The change, which arrived with the company’s Windows 10 Anniversary Update on Tuesday, is part of a larger emoji redesign project Microsoft embarked on months ago to refresh its library with new designs,” Statt reports. “‘It’s unclear why Microsoft felt the need to replace its old toy gun, which resembled a sci-fi space blaster, with a real firearm. It does, however, put the company at philosophical odds with Apple.”“Both companies are part...

Swedish business people, politicians and cultural icons have been snapped smooching with members of the same sex for a poster campaign in Umeå, designed to 'kiss homophobia goodbye'. The giant images are being displayed around Umeå's main indoor shopping centre, rather fittingly named Utopia, ahead of the northern Swedish city's Pride festival over the weekend. "It's a great honour to have these participants offering themselves, and undoubtedly promotes our campaign against homophobia," said Mona Liden, Utopia's manager, in a statement. Municipal councillors from the centre-right Moderate Party and from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven's Social Democrats are among those who have...