Back from the dead: Scientists have given Dante Alighieri, the “Divine Comedy” author, a 21st-century makeover. Using his 700-year-old skull, they’ve pieced together a digital portrait rather than those old flattering paintings. Oh, and he might have had a larger-than-average brain. I totally think he looks like Hugh Hefner.
Planning a trip? These things can get you BANNED from Airbnb
Rental platforms like Airbnb make finding the ideal place to stay easy. You can rent a space for multiple people to share, a shared space with private rooms or the entire property for yourself.
Did you know that Airbnb lets property owners monitor guests via camera? There are certain restrictions, but you may feel uncomfortable being watched, plus people sometimes break the rules and install cameras where they shouldn’t (such as in a bedroom). Tap or click here for a gadget that helps you detect hidden cameras.
Airbnb conducts background checks on hosts and guests, affecting their ability to use the platform. The problem is that some people are banned from the forum without warning.
Here’s the backstory
Airbnb guests and hosts are subject to rules. Breaking them can lead to warnings, fines, suspension or outright bans.
One way to lose Airbnb privileges is to fail the company’s background check. Airbnb employs third-party background check providers to look into the history of both hosts and guests. Here’s when the check is run:
- Guests: 10 days before the check-in date of their reservation (or later in the case of bookings within 10 days of check-in).
- Hosts: When the host logs in after creating a listing or when a stay or experience is booked — whichever comes first.
There’s nothing unusual about a company like Airbnb running a background check, but it seems the rental juggernaut is being quite strict.
One guest named Ashley booked an Airbnb to visit family in Ohio and received an email that she was banned from the platform as either a host or guest. The reason? The background check, conducted by a company called Inflection, revealed she had a criminal record.
Ashley wasn’t aware of any such thing. But in 2013, she had gotten in trouble with a police officer for her escaped dog, which was neither registered nor leashed. Ashley paid the fine and signed some paperwork provided by the officer.
As it turns out, she had received two misdemeanors. “I thought it was a ticket,” she told Motherboard. Ashley received glowing reviews from her Airbnb hosts, but despite this, she was booted from the platform without warning.
She applied for reinstatement but was rejected. In Airbnb’s response, the company said it “came to this outcome to safeguard the community and protect our policy.”
Spruce up your kitchen with these 13 great products
Is your kitchen full of old, broken appliances, cracked cups and stained plates? Yep, it’s definitely time for a kitchen product makeover.
All it takes is a few matching sets, some space-saving items and this list of 13 outstanding products that promise to spruce up your kitchen.