News gathered 2024-04-25
(date: 2024-04-25 05:56:53)
A ‘boring’ no-frills NFL Draft would be to the 49ers’ advantage
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
If the 49ers have a measured, rational approach and avoid the big splash in the 2024 NFL Draft, they’re doing the right thing.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/25/a-boring-no-frills-nfl-draft-would-be-to-the-49ers-advantage/
Atos hopes for lifeline as refinancing saga set to drag on into May
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Struggling French tech giant posts disappointing Q1 results
Crisis-hit tech giant Atos is pushing back the deadline for its refinancing proposals after posting a slim operating profit of €48 million ($51 million) for calendar Q1.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/atos_refinancing_extension/
Opinion: Schools’ shift from community to competition harms our youth
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
U.S. education system created in the 19th century to serve the public good now prioritizes and advances private gain.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/25/opinion-youth-mental-health-crisis/
This Aprilia MotoGP Clone Will Set You Back $80,000
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
That’s a lot of zeroes.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717351/aprilia-xtrenta-rsv4-motogp-price/
Witnesses describe Bay Area attorney’s alleged sexual misconduct at wedding
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
Two women testified they saw the former Vacaville attorney, on trial in Solano County Superior Court for alleged child sexual assaults, settle a hand on his oldest adopted daughter’s buttocks at a wedding.
EPA aims to quash coal emissions once and for all
date: 2024-04-25, from: Marketplace Morning Report
Big Sur Highway 1 repair work hitting its stride
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
With its eye on a May 27 reopening of the roadway, Caltrans reports that it continues to advance on repairs to stabilize the edge of the roadway at the Rocky Creek slip-out which occurred nearly a month ago and has reduced access to Big Sur to locals and essential workers only.
Judge finds man competent to stand trial in death of UC Santa Cruz student from San Ramon
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
“She was the most precious thing I had in my life, the day she was born until the day she passed,” said Mansoor Naseem, father of homicide victim Zainab Mansoor.
The 10 most expensive homes reported sold in Los Gatos in the week of April 8
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
A house in Monte Sereno that sold for $5.8 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Los Gatos in the past week.
Big San Jose manufacturing and industrial project pushes forward
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
A big manufacturing and industrial complex in San Jose is taking a key step forward.
Supercell’s newest game ‘Squad Busters’ launches worldwide May 29
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
The party action title is the first new game from Supercell in over five years
What School Issues Might Sway Voters In LAUSD Board Election This Fall?
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The LAist
Incumbent Los Angeles Unified School Board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin will retain her seat representing District 7 and three other school board races are headed to runoffs.
How I Explained AI and Deepfakes Using Only Basic Vietnamese
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Markup blog
Using slides, hand gestures, and the Vietnamese vocabulary of a five-year-old, we talked about fake faces
Get young people making interactive websites with JavaScript and our ‘More web’ path
date: 2024-04-25, from: Raspberry Pi (.org)
Modern web design has turned websites from static and boring walls of information into ways of providing fun and engaging experiences to the user. Our new ‘More web’ project path shows young creators how to add interaction and animation to a webpage through JavaScript code. Why learn JavaScript? As of 2024, JavaScript is the most…
The post Get young people making interactive websites with JavaScript and our ‘More web’ path appeared first on Raspberry Pi Foundation.
https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/more-web-learn-javascript/
Disneyland adds another potential themed land to the mix: Encanto
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
A themed land based on the charmed and hidden mountain town of Encanto in Colombia is the latest addition dangled as a DisneylandForward possibility.
Japan’s Moon lander makes it through another lunar night
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
What do we say to the God of Death? Not today
Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has woken up again, having survived three lunar nights.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/slim_another_lunar_night/
Who’s selling your digital data? California offers tools to protect online privacy
date: 2024-04-25, from: San Jose Mercury News
About 450 companies are on the data broker registry in California, and a law passed last year will make it easier to delete the data they collect about people.
Someone Stuffed BMW’s R 18 Motorcycle Engine Into A Mini
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717240/custom-austin-mini-bmw-r18-engine/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Polypane, The browser for ambitious web developers.
Can a tax save Venice from mass tourism?
date: 2024-04-25, from: Marketplace Morning Report
From the BBC World Service: Venice, Italy, has become the first city in the world to charge day trippers. But is $5.30 enough to keep a lid on tourist numbers? And, we’ll take a look at the $300 billion ‘modest fashion’ industry as thousands of models, designers and buyers arrive in Istanbul for Modest Fashion Week.
https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-morning-report/can-a-tax-save-venice-from-mass-tourism
Turns out teaching criminals to write web code keeps them out of prison
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
The software redemption
Teaching prisoners how to design and program websites turns out to improve their sense of self-worth and provides them with digital literacy skills that help them stay out of prison.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/prison_coding_skills/
Babe Ruth Day
date: 2024-04-25, from: National Archives, Pieces of History blog
April 27 is National Babe Ruth Day, when baseball fans worldwide celebrate baseball’s all-time greatest player. It originated on April 27, 1947, when the new Commissioner of Baseball Albert “Happy” Chandler proclaimed it, and a major celebration of Ruth’s career was held at Yankee Stadium. Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician … Continue reading Babe Ruth Day
https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2024/04/25/babe-ruth-day/
Omer Murray | Props to Ken Striplin
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
I had an urgent concern. From long ago, I have the city manager’s city email. On this Sunday morning at about 7:30, I sent an email. I got a response almost immediately. I am impressed with someone who is so involved with the city. I have felt and do feel that we are in good […]
The post Omer Murray | Props to Ken Striplin appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/omer-murray-props-to-ken-striplin/
Lynne Plambeck | Celebrations of Renewal
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
It’s Earth Day (April 22), which happens this year to coincide with he beginning of the Jewish celebration of Passover, just following the celebration of Eid, the end of Ramadan and the required fasting, a few weeks past Easter and the vernal equinox. All of this means spiritual celebrations of renewal and nature’s cycle of […]
The post Lynne Plambeck | Celebrations of Renewal appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/lynne-plambeck-celebrations-of-renewal/
You are worth $47.
date: 2024-04-25, from: Om Malik blog
Almost a year ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued subsidiary Ring, the camera security company that started off selling a video doorbell, for allowing employees and contractors to access private data without permission. The two parties have reached a settlement. Ring will pay $5.6 million to 117,000 customers whose data was accessed. That works out to $47. That is what …
https://om.co/2024/04/25/ftc-settles-with-ring/
April 24, 2024
date: 2024-04-25, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-24-2024-acb
Throwflame launches fire-spitting robo-dog from Hell
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
The Thermonator can be yours for just $9,420
Picture Boston Dynamics’ nightmare fuel robot dog Spot. Now imagine it 1,000 percent more terrifying.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/flamethrower_robot_dog/
Daily Trojan Staff Diversity Report shows decreased representation
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The report had an 84.6% response rate — a 27.6% increase from Fall 2023.
The post Daily Trojan Staff Diversity Report shows decreased representation appeared first on Daily Trojan.
Microsoft and Amazon’s AI ambitions spark regulatory rumble
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Tech giants confident everything’s in order
UK regulators want to hear from “interested third parties” on whether Microsoft and Amazon’s investments in AI startups is impeding competition.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/cma_amazon_microsoft_ai/
Faculty support student protest for Palestine
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Professors and lecturers marched in solidarity and gave speeches.
The post Faculty support student protest for Palestine appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/209744/
Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Alumni Park
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
More than 35 protesters were arrested for trespassing. One was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
The post Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Alumni Park appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/pro-palestinian-protesters-occupy-alumni-park/
Encampment protest ripples across campus communities
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Students faced difficulties finding campus exits and moved their activities.
The post Encampment protest ripples across campus communities appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/encampment-protest-ripples-across-campus-communities/
Mt32-pi Atari ST | The MagPi #141
date: 2024-04-25, from: Raspberry Pi News (.com)
Alongside his day job as The MagPi and Hackspace magazines’ publisher, Brian Jepson likes to track down and restore old computers.
The post Mt32-pi Atari ST | The MagPi #141 appeared first on Raspberry Pi.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/mt32-pi-atari-st-the-magpi-141/
Biden administration aims to clean up power sector with revamped rules
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday announced it has finalized rules targeting carbon, air and water pollution from power plants that
it says could cut over 1 billion metric tons from carbon emissions by 2047 even as demand for electricity grows.
The Environmental Protection Agency tightened a proposal to slash carbon emissions from existing coal and new gas plants, and updated and finalized long-standing rules to reduce mercury and toxic air pollutants and clean up wastewater and coal ash discharge.
“EPA is cutting pollution while ensuring that power companies can make smart investments and continue to deliver reliable electricity for all Americans,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
Regan had said in 2022 he intended to take on several regulations together to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, and help states, utilities and plant operators make better investment and plant retirement decisions.
The new rules come as electric utilities brace for a spike in demand from data centers powering technology like generative AI, as well as from the growth of electric vehicles.
The United States is projected this year to add more electric generation capacity than it has done in two decades, with 96% being clean energy, White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi told reporters.
Among the changes the EPA made to the carbon rule is dropping hydrogen as a “best system of emission reduction” for gas plants to achieve new standards.
Now it is just carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) that could be used for the longest-running existing coal units and new gas turbines that run more than 40% of the time. The EPA initially proposed that the standards apply to plants that run more than 50% of the time.
The agency also said coal plants that plan to run past 2039 will be required to install CCS technology starting in 2032 in the final rule. It had initially proposed requiring CCS for plants that will be running past 2040.
The Edison Electric Institute, an investor-owned utility trade group, said it appreciated EPA’s approach of bundling the different pollution rules to ease compliance, but was disappointed the agency didn’t heed its concerns around CCS viability.
“CCS is not yet ready for full-scale, economy-wide deployment, nor is there sufficient time to permit, finance, and build the CCS infrastructure needed for compliance by 2032,” EEI President Dan Brouillette said.
Regan told reporters the agency was confident in the technology, which has been bolstered by Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives, and support from “multiple power companies.”
The agency also said it has launched a process to get feedback on how to reduce carbon emissions from existing gas plants. The EPA removed coverage of existing gas plants from the initial proposal last month and gave no new timeline for developing a rule to cover the current fleet.
The EPA also reduced mercury emissions limits for lignite coal plants by 70% and emissions limits associated with toxic metals by 67%, the first update of that rule since 2012, while also finalizing measures that would eliminate 660 million pounds of pollution per year being discharged into U.S. waterways and protect communities from coal ash contamination.
Environmental groups praised the rules for helping to drive down power sector emissions alongside the IRA, putting the administration closer to its goal of net-zero emissions in the sector by 2035.
“The age of unbridled climate pollution from power plants is over,” said Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito, top Republican on the Senate environment committee, said she plans to introduce a resolution aiming to overturn the rules.
“President Biden has inexplicably doubled down on his plans to shut down the backbone of America’s electric grid through unachievable regulatory mandates,” she said.
Ukraine says Russian missile attack damaged houses in Cherkasy
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
The White House Also Has Some Transmission News
date: 2024-04-25, from: Heatmap News
The Environmental Protection Agency’s power plant rules were not the only big energy policy announcement from the Biden administration Thursday. The White House also announced a bevy of initiatives and projects meant to bolster infrastructure throughout the country.
Transmission arguably sits at the absolute center of the Biden administration’s climate policy. Without investments to move new renewable power from where it’s sunny or windy but desolate and remote to where it’s still and cloudy but densely populated, the Inflation Reduction Act is unlikely to meet its emissions reduction potential. While the most important transmission policy changes will likely come from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission next month, and possibly permitting reform legislation under consideration in Congress, the White House and Department of Energy are doing what they can with tens of billions of dollars allotted in both the IRA and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and their power over environmental regulations.
One such pot of money is the Transmission Facilitation Program, which directs funds towards interregional transmission projects. The DOE announced Thursday that one such project, the Southwest Intertie Project-North, would get up to $331 million in funding. The almost-300 mile-long transmission line would connect wind projects in Idaho to the California electric grid. The project was conditionally approved by California regulators in December and would run from Midpoint, Idaho to Robinson Summit in Eastern Nevada, where it could connect to already operating lines that run to Las Vegas and then interconnect with California. The total costs are estimated to run to just over $1 billion.
“We’re building out transmission lines to get clean power from where it’s generated to where it’s needed,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told reporters Wednesday. The project “will increase grid resilience, especially during wildfires, and it’ll create over 300 high quality and union construction jobs,” Granholm said.
The other announcements had to do with great bugbear of the energy
transition: permitting. Transmission projects can take decades from
conception to completion, often featuring years-long reviews,
stakeholders negotiations, and lawsuits. Interregional transmission —
especially in the Western United States, where much of the country’s
best wind and solar resources are (along with energy-hungry populations
in California and the Southwest) — often takes place on and across
public lands, thus ensuring plans must undergo the federal government’s
full gamut of environmental review.
“Right now, it takes about four years, on average, to permit a new transmission project in the U.S., and in extreme cases it can take over a decade,” Granholm said.
To help speed that up, the DOE said it was establishing a new Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorization and Permits program, which will facilitate consultation across all relevant government bodies, “create efficiencies, and establish a standard two-year timeline for federal transmission authorizations and permits.” This would establish the DOE as “the main point of contact” for transmission developers Granholm said. This constitutes “a huge improvement from the status quo,” she added, “because developers routinely have to navigate several independent permitting processes throughout the federal government.”
Also in the same announcement (yes, it was a big one), the DOE also said it was creating a “categorical exclusion” — essentially an exemption from much of the typically required environmental review — for upgrading existing transmission lines. While there’s no way to avoid building new transmission to connect new projects, existing lines could be become far more efficient, which would go a long way toward handling the expected steep rise in electricity demand.
https://heatmap.news/sparks/biden-power-grid-transmission
The New EPA Power Plant Rules Are Out — and Could Change the Calculus for Gas
date: 2024-04-25, from: Heatmap News
Utilities all over the country have proposed to build a slew of new natural gas-fired power plants in recent months, citing an anticipated surge in electricity demand from data centers, a boom in manufacturing, and the rise of electric vehicles. But on Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized new emissions limits on power plants that throw many of those plans into question.
The rules require that newly built natural gas plants that are designed to help meet the grid’s daily, minimum needs, will have to slash their carbon emissions by 90% by 2032, an amount that can only be achieved with the use of carbon capture equipment. But carbon capture will be cost-prohibitive in many cases — especially in the Southeast, where much of that expected demand growth is concentrated, but which lacks the geology necessary to store captured carbon underground.
“With this rule, it’s kind of back to square one,” Tyler Norris, an electric power systems researcher, told me. “I think most likely, you’re gonna see the regulators really push back and call upon them to redo all their modeling.”
This is the first federal mandate to curb carbon from the electricity sector since President Obama’s 2015 Clean Power Plan, which never went into effect. Despite increasing investment in renewable energy, power generation is responsible for about a quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPA issued its original proposal for these rules more than a year ago. At the time, utilities argued that carbon capture technology was not “adequately demonstrated” and therefore should not be the basis for the rule. This argument will likely come up again in legal challenges, although the Biden administration maintains that recent federal investments in carbon capture — including an $85 tax credit for every ton of CO2 captured and stored — render it both “technically feasible and cost-reasonable.”
As part of the same announcement on Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized several additional rules to rein in air and water pollution from coal-fired power plants, including mercury and toxic metals, wastewater, and coal ash, in addition to carbon emissions. During a call with reporters on Wednesday, EPA administrator Michael Regan argued that by finalizing all of these rules at once, the agency was providing the highest degree of regulatory certainty for the power industry. “This approach is both strategic and innovative,” he said. “We are ensuring that the power sector has the information needed to prepare for the future with confidence, enabling strong investment and planning decisions.”
Initially the EPA was going to require emissions cuts at existing natural gas plants, too, but the agency announced in February that it was delaying that rule in order to develop a “stronger, more durable approach.” On Wednesday, EPA officials offered no new details on the timeline.
The two other biggest changes the agency made between the proposed and final rules were to push forward and shorten the timeline for coal plant compliance, and to lower the threshold determining how many natural gas plants have to meet the toughest standard — which means more plants will have to control their emissions.
If the new regulations survive legal challenges (which are all but guaranteed), the agency projects they will prevent a total of nearly 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon emissions through 2047, which is about equal to the amount the power sector emits in a year. That’s significant, but it’s not quite at the same level as the clean car rules the EPA finalized in March, which are expected to avoid 7.2 billion metric tons of carbon between 2027 and 2055. The EPA also estimates that the power plant rules will produce $370 billion in climate and health benefits over the next two decades, in terms of avoided deaths, hospital visits, and asthma cases.
The new emissions limits for coal plants are tied to how much longer a given coal plant is slated to operate. Those that plan to shut down before 2032 are exempt altogether. Those that plan to retire by 2039 have to reduce the amount of CO2 they emit per megawatt hour by replacing some of the coal they burn with natural gas beginning in 2030. Coal plants with no plans to retire before 2039 are subject to the highest standard, requiring a 90% drop in emissions by 2032 — which would require capturing the emissions and storing them underground.
Coal plants are already shutting down at a rapid pace purely based on economics and the fact that so many of them are so old. Getting the rules in place is less about tackling coal emissions, per se, and more about “getting utilities thinking more proactive about how they are going to replace these coal plants,” Michelle Solomon, a senior policy advisor at the nonprofit think tank Energy Innovation, told me.
Gas, however, is another story. Utilities have been sounding the alarm about a coming surge in electricity demand. Electric companies throughout the Southeast, as well as Texas, Wisconsin, and elsewhere, have proposed building dozens of new natural gas plants, arguing that renewables and batteries aren’t up to the task of providing a reliable, dispatchable source of power.
Clean energy researchers and advocates dispute the idea that gas plants are needed for reliability. (Whether that coming demand is real or inflated is also a matter of debate.)
“Utilities are seeing an additional need for peak capacity, not an additional need for capacity throughout the day,” Solomon told me, asserting it was possible to meet those peaks with solar and storage, or even by improving efficiency so that the peaks aren’t as high. The trick is making sure we can bring those resources online fast enough. To that end, the Department of Energy also announced a number of initiatives to boost transmission infrastructure on Thursday.
The EPA’s regulations for new gas plants are tied to how frequently they are intended to operate. Plants that are designed to switch on during times of peak demand — a variety called a “simple cycle” combustion turbine plant — won’t have to do anything differently. Plants that run a bit more often — so-called “intermediate” resources that might run daily from mid-morning till the evening, at 20% to 40% of their annual capacity — will be required to install the most efficient equipment available on the market. Any that operate more frequently than that will be subject to the 90% emissions reduction standard by 2032. This primarily affects “combined cycle” plants, which are more efficient than single cycle but can’t ramp up and down as quickly or easily.
Utilities with recently hatched plans to build single cycle plants, including Georgia Power, are unlikely to be affected by the rule at all. “I do think that makes sense, given the focus of these rules, which are on carbon emissions,” Amanda Levin, a director of policy analysis at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told me. “Given the frequency and type of operation for [single cycle], they’re not as significant as sources of CO2.”
But utilities planning to build combined cycle projects — and many of them are — could be forced to go back to the drawing board. Norris noted that Duke Energy, which serves customers in North and South Carolina, and has proposed building more than 6 gigawatts of combined cycle capacity, will be especially affected.
For combined cycle plants, there are essentially two options to comply: Install carbon capture, or plan to run your plant a lot less frequently. In either case, it “dramatically increases the levelized cost of those units,” Norris told me. “So I think any reasonable regulator would say we’ve got to go back and do a much more rigorous comparative analysis to other least-cost solutions.”
Solomon has a more cynical view of the recent panic over electricity demand and rush to build new gas plants. “We’ve known that demand is growing, is going to grow, for a long time,” she told me. “The fact that there’s quite a lot of news about this just as the rules are coming out is unlikely to be a total coincidence.”
https://heatmap.news/climate/epa-power-plant-rules-gas
BMW calls for vendor openness in quest to mine its own processes
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
‘Software companies try to extend their reach and their usage, but this can’t be by locking in users,’ says process mining lead
BMW’s process mining leader has called for greater openness among enterprise application and software vendors to avoid data lock-in.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/bmw_calls_for_vendor_openness/
Gogoro’s new lower-cost electric scooter breaks sales records, begins shipping
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
After recently launching its newest electric scooter, the Gogoro JEGO Smartscooter, deliveries of the hot-selling electric scooters are ready to begin. This marks a new page for Gogoro, the world’s largest battery-swapping network operator, and makes swappable battery electric scooters more affordable than ever.
Elon Musk’s grotesque distortion of capitalism
date: 2024-04-25, from: Robert Reich on Substack
He’s demanding the largest pay package in corporate history while extorting his shareholders and firing 14,000 workers
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/elon-musks-grotesque-distortion-of
Quick and Easy Spring Home Updates
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The arrival of spring can inspire us to freshen up our homes.
The post Quick and Easy Spring Home Updates appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/25/quick-and-easy-spring-home-updates/
Classifieds – April 25, 2024
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The Daily Trojan features Classified advertising in each day’s edition. Here you can read, search, and even print out each day’s edition of the Classifieds.
The post Classifieds – April 25, 2024 appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/classifieds-april-25-2024/
Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning in Your Neighborhood
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
Spring heralds a time of renewal and rejuvenation, not just in the natural world, but within our homes and lives as well. The tradition of spring cleaning, deeply embedded in cultures around the globe, symbolizes more than the act of tidying and decluttering— it represents a chance to start fresh, to reevaluate and renew our […]
The post Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning in Your Neighborhood appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/cameron-smyth-spring-cleaning-in-your-neighborhood/
Forget the AI doom and hype, let’s make computers useful
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Machine learning has its place, just not in ways that suits today’s hypesters
Systems Approach Full disclosure: I have a history with AI, having flirted with it in the 1980s (remember expert systems?) and then having safely avoided the AI winter of the late 1980s by veering off into formal verification before finally landing on networking as my specialty in 1988.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/ai_usefulness/
Reversing Biodiversity Loss
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Restoring nature in our urban centers is yielding many benefits.
The post Reversing Biodiversity Loss appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/25/reversing-biodiversity-loss/
Today in SCV History (April 25)
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
1906 – Bercaw General Store opens in Surrey (Saugus). [story
https://scvnews.com/today-in-scv-history-april-25/
An open letter to my brother who refuses to vote
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The post An open letter to my brother who refuses to vote appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/an-open-letter-to-my-brother-who-refuses-to-vote/
Find your network of people
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
In a world of stress and uncertainty, hold onto the people that add love, support and inspiration to your life.
The post Find your network of people appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/find-your-network-of-people/
Reggie Bush is Heisman winner again
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The former electric USC star running back got his trophy “reinstated” Wednesday.
The post Reggie Bush is Heisman winner again appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/reggie-bush-is-heisman-winner-again/
The Figueroa Street Ferrari
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
When Kayleigh Heckel joins women’s basketball, USC will be off and running.
The post The Figueroa Street Ferrari appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/the-figueroa-street-ferrari/
Ring in summer with this year’s blockbusters
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
As finals approach, here are the best movies to celebrate once they’re all over.
The post Ring in summer with this year’s blockbusters appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/ring-in-summer-with-this-years-blockbusters/
‘Soliloquy’ thrills as casting call commentary
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The Trojan Filmmakers Club’s film, the result of student work, debuts soon.
The post ‘Soliloquy’ thrills as casting call commentary appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/soliloquy-thrills-as-casting-call-commentary/
Indian bank’s IT is so shabby it’s been banned from opening new accounts
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
After two years of warnings, and outages, regulators ran out of patience with Kotak Mahindra Bank
India’s central bank has banned Kotak Mahindra Bank from signing up new customers for accounts or credit cards through its online presence and app.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/rbi_india_kotak_mahindra_bank/
Blinken kicks off direct engagement with China ahead of tough talks
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
State Department — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the necessity for “direct” and “sustained engagement” between the United States and China during his first official meeting in Shanghai, a city home to more than 1,000 U.S. companies.
Thursday morning, Blinken held talks with Chen Jining, Chinese Communist Party Secretary for Shanghai. Chen is the highest-ranking local official and is a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party.
Blinken said he would lay out “our differences, which are real” but seek to “work through them” as well as to “build cooperation where we can.”
Welcoming the Secretary to Shanghai at the city’s Grand Halls, Chen said through a translator that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relationship between the two nations has not always been smooth, there’s always been “twists and turns,” “but overall, it has progressed with historical development and progressed forward.”
Blinken was last in Shanghai in 2015 when he was deputy secretary of state.
“In a constructive and candid exchange, the secretary raised concerns about PRC trade policies and non-market economic practices and stressed that the United States seeks a healthy economic competition with the PRC and a level playing field for U.S. workers and firms operating in China,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. He was referring to People’s Republic of China.
During a discussion with American and Chinese students from New York University Shanghai, Blinken underscored the importance of expanding exchanges between students, scholars, and business.
“We need to make sure that we are talking to each other, hearing each other, understanding each other,” he said.
According to the State Department, the NYU Shanghai student body currently consists of nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, half of whom are from China. Students from the United States and some 70 other countries represent the other half. There are approximately 500 U.S. students.
Later Thursday, Blinken met with business leaders at the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, advocating for the resolution of a range of trade issues facing the world’s two largest economies.
In a brief video, Blinken said late Wednesday he is in China “to make progress on issues that matter most to the American people, including curbing fentanyl trafficking,” against the backdrop of Shanghai’s skyline. He added that officials from the U.S. and China will also discuss other areas where the two countries have “significant disagreements.”
While Washington and Beijing are divided over a range of thorny issues, Blinken began his visit to China this week focusing first on the importance of direct engagement. It is something, he says, is essential for addressing key issues affecting people from both countries and the world.
Analysts told VOA Blinken’s visit will surface a range of contentious issues but also maintain “the tactical thaw” that gained momentum following U.S. President Joe Biden’s face-to-face talks with PRC President Xi Jinping last November.
“The relationship continues to grow more competitive militarily, technologically, and diplomatically, but the increase is occurring in a more predictable, controlled manner than it was a year earlier due to both countries’ continued investment in high-level diplomacy,” Ali Wyne, a senior research and advocacy adviser for International Crisis Group, told VOA Mandarin in an email.
Intensive diplomacy between Washington and Beijing has yielded little progress in curtailing China’s supply of precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit fentanyl that affects the United States. Strains are escalating due to China’s support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, prompting the U.S. to warn further actions against China.
“I’m very pessimistic about this visit. Xi Jinping is committed to helping his close friend Putin and will not be very responsive to America’s requests,” Dennis Wilder, senior fellow for the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues at Georgetown University, told VOA Mandarin.
A day before Blinken departed for Shanghai, he unveiled the State Department’s annual report on human rights practices, which said that the PRC government continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Blinken told reporters that he would raise the issue of human rights with the Beijing government.
Blinken is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing Friday afternoon.
The State Department said Blinken will hold a press conference in Beijing before returning to Washington.
Dick’s Sporting Goods suffers dual shoplifting incidents
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
The Dick’s Sporting Goods location in Centre Pointe Village was shoplifted from twice on Wednesday night, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “It was a male Hispanic and a female Hispanic,” Watch Sgt. Mark Perkins said when describing the first pair of suspects. “They stole items… they just walked towards Walmart pushing a […]
The post Dick’s Sporting Goods suffers dual shoplifting incidents appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/dicks-sporting-goods-suffers-dual-shoplifting-incidents/
April 24, 2024
date: 2024-04-25, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
This morning, President Joe Biden signed into law the $95 billion national security supplemental bill providing military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza and other peoples suffering humanitarian crises. The Pentagon immediately sent about a billion dollars worth of ammunition, air defense munitions, and artillery rounds, as well as weapons and armored vehicles to Ukraine. The U.S. Department of Defense had moved supplies into Poland and Germany in hopes that the measure would pass; they should move into Ukraine soon.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-24-2024
How many people died from disasters in 2023?
date: 2024-04-25, from: Hannah Richie at Substack
More than usual, with most lives lost in devastating earthquakes.
https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/disaster-deaths-2023
Samsung shows off battery tech it says will see you gone in nine minutes
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Might help to set spluttering EV market on fire. Won’t catch fire thanks to built-in vents
Samsung SDI, the Korean giant’s battery biz, on Tuesday promised EV batteries that can charge to 80 percent capacity in a mere nine minutes, plus models that can perform at that level for 20 years.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/samsung_battery_twenty_years/
Home, Earth, and Garden 2024
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
How Santa Barbara protects and beautifies its patch of planet.
The post Home, Earth, and Garden 2024 appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/24/home-earth-and-garden-2024/
Pro-Palestinian protests spread on US university campuses
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
U.S. university campuses are seeing pro-Palestinian protests daily. Students are demonstrating against the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and demanding that humanitarian aid be allowed to flow into the territory. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports.
https://www.voanews.com/a/pro-palestinian-protests-spread-on-us-university-campuses-/7584339.html
US police clash with students who demand colleges cut financial ties to Israel
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
austin, texas — Police tangled with student demonstrators in the U.S. states of Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
At the University of Texas at Austin, hundreds of local and state police — including some on horseback and holding batons — clashed with protesters, pushing them off the campus lawn and at one point sending some tumbling into the street. At least 20 demonstrators were taken into custody at the request of university officials and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, according to the state Department of Public Safety.
A photographer covering the demonstration for Fox 7 Austin was arrested after being caught in a push-and-pull between law enforcement and students, the station confirmed. A longtime Texas journalist was knocked down in the mayhem and could be seen bleeding before police helped him to emergency medical staff who bandaged his head.
At the University of Southern California, police got into a back-and-forth tugging match with protesters over tents, removing several before falling back. At the northern end of California, students were barricaded inside a building for a third day at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The school shut down campus through the weekend and made classes virtual.
Harvard University in Massachusetts had sought to stay ahead of protests this week by limiting access to Harvard Yard and requiring permission for tents and tables. That didn’t stop protesters from setting up a camp with 14 tents Wednesday following a rally against the university’s suspension of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee.
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies enabling its monthslong conflict. Dozens have been arrested on charges of trespassing or disorderly conduct. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.
Columbia University averted another confrontation between students and police earlier in the day. The situation there remained tense, with campus officials saying it would continue talks with protesters for another 48 hours.
On a visit to campus, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign “if she cannot bring order to this chaos.”
“If this is not contained quickly and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard,” he said.
Shafik had set a midnight Tuesday deadline to reach an agreement on clearing an encampment, but the school extended negotiations, saying it was making “important progress.”
On Wednesday evening, a Columbia spokesperson said rumors that the university had threatened to bring in the National Guard were unfounded. “Our focus is to restore order, and if we can get there through dialogue, we will,” said Ben Chang, Columbia’s vice president for communications.
Columbia graduate student Omer Lubaton Granot, who put up pictures of Israeli hostages near the encampment, said he wanted to remind people that there were more than 100 hostages still being held by Hamas.
“I see all the people behind me advocating for human rights,” he said. “I don’t think they have one word to say about the fact that people their age, that were kidnapped from their homes or from a music festival in Israel, are held by a terror organization.”
Harvard law student Tala Alfoqaha, who is Palestinian, said she and other protesters want more transparency from the university.
“My hope is that the Harvard administration listens to what its students have been asking for all year, which is divestment, disclosure and dropping any sort of charges against students,” she said.
Columbia encampment inspires others
Police first tried to clear the encampment at Columbia last week, when they arrested more than 100 protesters. The move backfired, acting as an inspiration for other students across the country to set up similar encampments and motivating protesters at Columbia to regroup.
On Wednesday about 60 tents remained at the Columbia encampment, which appeared calm. Security remained tight around campus, with identification required and police setting up metal barricades.
Columbia said it had agreed with protest representatives that only students would remain at the encampment and they would make it welcoming, banning discriminatory or harassing language.
On the University of Minnesota campus, a few dozen students rallied a day after nine protesters were arrested when police took down an encampment in front of the library. U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, whose daughter was among the demonstrators arrested at Columbia last week, attended a protest later in the day.
A group of more than 80 professors and assistant professors signed a letter Wednesday calling on the university’s president and other administrators to drop any charges and to allow future encampments without what they described as police retaliation.
They wrote that they were “horrified that the administration would permit such a clear violation of our students’ rights to freely speak out against genocide and ongoing occupation of Palestine.”
Netanyahu encourages police response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on U.S. college campuses in a video statement released Wednesday, saying the response of several university presidents has been “shameful” and calling on state, local and federal officials to intervene.
Students at some protests were hiding their identities and declined to identify themselves to reporters, saying they feared retribution. At an encampment of about 40 tents at the heart of the University of Michigan’s campus in Ann Arbor, almost every student wore a mask, which was handed to them when they entered.
The upwelling of demonstrations has left universities struggling to balance campus safety with free speech rights. Many long tolerated the protests, but are now doling out more heavy-handed discipline, citing safety concerns.
At New York University this week, police said 133 protesters were taken into custody and all had been released with summonses to appear in court on disorderly conduct charges. More than 40 protesters were arrested Monday at an encampment at Yale University.
Columbia University demonstrators in talks with administration officials
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
NEW YORK — Officials at Columbia University were continuing talks Wednesday with student demonstrators from the Gaza Solidarity Encampment as the protest reaches a full week.
At 9:41 p.m. Tuesday, university President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik sent an email to the Columbia community setting a midnight deadline for an agreement to be reached about dismantling the encampment and dispersing the protesters.
“I very much hope these discussions are successful,” she wrote. “If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate.”
As midnight passed, Columbia University Apartheid Divest posted a statement on X saying, “We refuse to concede to cowardly threats and blatant intimidation by university administration. We will continue to peacefully protest.”
The statement also said the university had threatened to call the National Guard. But after visiting the university earlier in the week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Tuesday she had no plans to deploy the National Guard.
As midnight approached on Tuesday, a student organizer announced that the deadline had been extended to 8 a.m. Wednesday.
At 4:09 a.m., the Office of the President sent an email saying the discussion deadline would be extended for 48 hours, given the constructive dialogue, and the university would report back on progress.
The email announced that leaders of the student encampment had agreed to remove a significant number of tents, get non-Columbia affiliates to leave the encampment and comply with New York Fire Department requirements. They also agreed to ensure that the encampment is “welcome to all” and to prohibit “discriminatory or harassing language.”
This development comes nearly a week after more than 100 students were arrested at the school on April 18, after Shafik authorized police to clear away protesters. Some of the students received suspension notices from the school.
Columbia’s action prompted an onslaught of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at other universities and responses from faculty and politicians.
Students at other campuses, such as Yale, Stanford and New York University, have also rallied around the Palestinian cause, calling for their universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel and for a cease-fire in Gaza. Many also have put up tent encampments on their campuses. About 150 students and faculty were arrested at New York University Monday night.
Columbia also announced Tuesday morning that classes on the Morningside main campus, where the protests are taking place, will be offered in a hybrid format for the remainder of the spring semester. The last day of classes is April 29.
IBM to acquire Hashi for $6.4 billion, hopes it will boost software biz and Red Hat
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Investors want to know what Big Blue is smoking after growth disappoints
IBM has announced it will acquire Hashi for $6.4 billion, and touted the deal as meaning its hybrid cloud platform will emerge with a “comprehensive” set of products.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/ibm_q1_2024/
Biden says Trump responsible for ‘cruelty and chaos’ over abortion
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
U.S. President Joe Biden is making reproductive rights a centerpiece of his re-election campaign, blaming opponent Donald Trump for opening the way to stricter state abortion laws. In this presidential campaign, Trump is pursuing a more moderate position on abortion than other Republicans. Scott Stearns reports.
US military aid to Israel under scrutiny as Biden signs $26B in new assistance
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
President Joe Biden signed a $26 billion wartime assistance package to Israel on Wednesday, at a time when there is increased scrutiny over whether that country’s military is meeting U.S. human rights standards. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports.
Arizona House sends repeal of state’s near-total abortion ban to Senate
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
PHOENIX — A proposed repeal of Arizona’s near-total ban on abortions won approval Wednesday from the state House after two weeks of mounting pressure on Republicans over an issue that has bedeviled former President Donald Trump’s campaign to return to the White House.
Three Republicans joined in with all 29 Democrats to vote to repeal a law that predated Arizona’s statehood and provides no exceptions for rape or incest. If the Senate approves as expected, Arizona would allow abortions up to 15 weeks.
Their political ambitions imperiled by widespread opposition to a near-total abortion ban, Trump and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake had urged Arizona lawmakers to ease the restrictions. But until Wednesday, most state House Republicans repeatedly used procedural votes to block repeal, each time drawing condemnation from Democratic President Joe Biden, who has made his support for abortion rights central to his reelection campaign.
“Make no mistake, Arizonans are living in 1864 now because Donald Trump dismantled Roe v. Wade,” Democratic state Senator Priya Sundareshan of Tucson said in a news conference before the vote. It was organized by the Biden campaign and the Arizona Democratic Party.
Arizona is one of a handful of battleground states that will decide the next president. Trump, who has warned that the issue could lead to Republican losses, has avoided endorsing a national abortion ban but said he’s proud to have appointed the Supreme Court justices who allowed states to outlaw the procedure.
Arizona Republicans have been under intense pressure from some conservatives in their base, who firmly support the abortion ban, even as it’s become a liability with swing voters who will decide crucial races including the presidency, the U.S. Senate and the GOP’s control of the Legislature.
“I am disgusted today,” said Republican Representative Rachel Jones, who voted against repeal. “Life is one of the tenets of our Republican platform. To see people go back on that value is egregious to me.”
State Representative Matt Gress, one of the three Republicans who crossed party lines to support the repeal measure, said in a statement that the near-total abortion ban was “unworkable and out of line with the values of Arizonans.” GOP Representative Tim Dunn said his vote in favor of repeal was “the most pro-life vote I could possibly make” because, he said, backlash to the total ban would lead voters to support abortion even after 15 weeks.
The other Republican who supported the repeal measure, state Representative Justin Wilmeth, didn’t return an email and phone call seeking comment on the vote.
The Arizona Supreme Court concluded this month that the state could enforce the long-dormant law that permits abortions only to save the pregnant patient’s life. The ruling suggested doctors could be prosecuted under the law first approved in 1864, which carries a sentence of two to five years in prison for anyone who assists in an abortion.
The law had been blocked since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion nationwide.
After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, then-Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican, convinced a state judge that the 1864 ban could be enforced. The law hasn’t been enforced while the case was making its way through the courts. Brnovich’s Democratic successor, Attorney General Kris Mayes, urged the state’s high court against reviving the law.
Mayes has said the earliest the law could be enforced is June 8. But the anti-abortion-rights group defending the ban, Alliance Defending Freedom, maintains county prosecutors can begin enforcing it once the Supreme Court’s decision becomes final, which is expected to occur this week.
If the proposed repeal wins final approval from the Republican-controlled Legislature and is signed into law by Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, a 2022 statute banning the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy would become the prevailing abortion law. Even so, there would likely be a period where all abortions are outlawed, because the repeal won’t take effect until 90 days after the end of the legislative session, likely in midsummer.
Advocates are collecting signatures for a ballot measure allowing abortions until a fetus could survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks, with exceptions — to save the parent’s life, or to protect her physical or mental health.
Republican lawmakers, in turn, are considering putting one or more competing abortion proposals on the November ballot.
Jewish community celebrates Passover with Seder at SCV Senior Center
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
A jovial atmosphere surrounded the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center at Bella Vida on Tuesday for the annual Passover Seder hosted by Rabbi Mark Blazer of Temple Beth Ami. Jews from across the Santa Clarita Valley welcomed each other as they walked in the room to celebrate the holiday. Alan Kivnik, a six-year resident of […]
The post <strong>Jewish community celebrates Passover with Seder at SCV Senior Center</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/jewish-community-celebrates-passover-with-seder-at-scv-senior-center/
Arizona indicts nearly 20 in case over 2020 election in Arizona, including Giuliani and Meadows
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
PHOENIX — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former Donald Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows and lawyer Rudy Giuliani along with 16 others in an election interference case.
The indictment released Wednesday names 11 Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in Arizona in the 2020 presidential election. It shows seven other defendants whose names were not immediately released because they had not yet been served with the charges.
The Associated Press was able to determine the identities of the unnamed defendants based on their descriptions in the indictment.
One is described as an attorney “who was often identified as the Mayor” and spread false allegations of election fraud, a description that clearly describes Giuliani. Another is described as Trump’s ” chief of staff in 2020,” which describes Meadows.
“I will not allow American democracy to be undermined,” Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a video released by her office. “It’s too important.”
The 11 people who had been nominated to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and claiming that Trump carried the state. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.
Biden won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes. Of the eight lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged Biden’s victory in the state, one was filed by the 11 Republicans who would later sign the certificate declaring Trump as the winner.
Their lawsuit asked a judge to de-certify the results that gave Biden his victory in Arizona and block the state from sending them to the Electoral College. In dismissing the case, U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa said the Republicans lacked legal standing, waited too long to bring their case and “failed to provide the court with factual support for their extraordinary claims.”
Days after that lawsuit was dismissed, the 11 Republicans participated in the certificate signing.
The Arizona charges come after a string of indictments against fake electors in other states.
In December, a Nevada grand jury indicted six Republicans on felony charges of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument in connection with false election certificates. They have pleaded not guilty.
Michigan’s Attorney General in July filed felony charges that included forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery against 16 Republican fake electors. One had charges dropped after reaching a cooperation deal, and the 15 remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Three fake electors also have been charged in Georgia alongside Trump and others in a sweeping indictment accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally overturn the results. They have pleaded not guilty.
In Wisconsin, 10 Republicans who posed as electors settled a civil lawsuit, admitting their actions were part of an effort to overturn Biden’s victory. There is no known criminal investigation in Wisconsin.
Trump also was indicted in August in federal court over the fake electors scheme. The indictment states that when Trump was unable to persuade state officials to illegally swing the election, he and his Republican allies began recruiting a slate of fake electors in battleground states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — to sign certificates falsely stating he, not Biden, had won their states.
In early January, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said that state’s five Republican electors cannot be prosecuted under the current law. In New Mexico and Pennsylvania, fake electors added a caveat saying the election certificate was submitted in case they were later recognized as duly elected, qualified electors. No charges have been filed in Pennsylvania.
In Arizona, Mayes’ predecessor, Republican Mark Brnovich, conducted an investigation of the 2020 election, but the fake elector allegations were not part of that examination, according to Mayes’ office.
In another election-related case brought by Mayes’ office, two Republican officials in a rural Arizona county who delayed canvassing the 2022 general election results face felony charges. A grand jury indicted Cochise County Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby in November on one count each of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. Both pleaded not guilty.
The Republicans facing charges are Kelli Ward, the state GOP’s chair from 2019 until early 2023; state Sen. Jake Hoffman; Tyler Bowyer, an executive of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA who serves on the Republican National Committee; state Sen. Anthony Kern, who was photographed in restricted areas outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack and is now a candidate in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District; Greg Safsten, a former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party; energy industry executive James Lamon, who lost a 2022 Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat; Robert Montgomery, chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee in 2020; Samuel Moorhead, a Republican precinct committee member in Gila County; Nancy Cottle, who in 2020 was the first vice president of the Arizona Federation of Republican Women; Loraine Pellegrino, president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women; and Michael Ward, an osteopathic physician who is married to Kelli Ward.
None of the 11 responded to either phone, email or social media messages from The Associated Press on Wednesday seeking comment.
Douphner reaches 1,000 kills in wildcard win
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
West Ranch junior Noah Douphner eclipsed a major feat at the perfect time on Tuesday night. The Wildcats’ 3-1 wildcard win over the visiting Tustin Tillers pushes West Ranch into the Division 4 bracket. West Ranch (20-11) won the play-in match, 25-17, 22-25, 25-9, 25-20, behind 24 kills from Douphner. The junior knew he only […]
The post <strong>Douphner reaches 1,000 kills in wildcard win</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/douphner-reaches-1000-kills-in-wildcard-win/
Trinity baseball finishes perfect
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
Nineteen straight wins, the program’s third straight Heritage League title and an 11-strikeout performance from freshman Andrew Carlson clinched the perfect season for Trinity Knights baseball. The Knights finished as the only undefeated team in the state and made the perfect regular season official on Tuesday after their 8-1 win over the Desert Christian Knights […]
The post <strong>Trinity baseball finishes perfect </strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/trinity-baseball-finishes-perfect/
Foothill League golf race coming down to the wire
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
The Foothill League boys’ golf championship may very well come down to a single stroke. Hart and West Ranch have battled back and forth all season, and with just one league match to go, it’s either’s game. On Monday, Wildcats sophomore Tyler Sonnenberg shot the first under-par score of the season in league play. Sonnenberg […]
The post <strong>Foothill League golf race coming down to the wire</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/foothill-league-golf-race-coming-down-to-the-wire/
Daily EV Recap: Tesla in talks over licensing Full Self-Driving
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and…
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/daily-ev-recap-tesla-in-talks-over-licensing-full-self-driving/
State Superintendent Makes Historic Push for Results-Proven Training in Literacy, Math as Sponsor of SB 1115
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond testified today in the Senate Education Committee about the need for results-proven training for all teachers of reading and math
Ocean Water Warning for April 24
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters
https://scvnews.com/ocean-water-warning-for-april-24/
Australia’s spies and cops want ‘accountable encryption’ - aka access to backdoors
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
And warn that AI is already being used by extremists to plot attacks
The director general of Australia’s lead intelligence agency and the commissioner of its Federal Police yesterday both called for social networks to offer more assistance to help their investigators work on cases involving terrorism, child exploitation, and racist nationalism.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/asio_afp_accountable_encryption/
Family Promise shares progress with ‘frame walk’
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley accepted a $300,000 push toward its goal for transitional housing in Newhall on Tuesday from the Santa Clarita City Council. The next day, the local nonprofit hosted a tour of the framework, showing the community where the money is going. The plans, which were initially approved by the Santa […]
The post <strong>Family Promise shares progress with ‘frame walk’</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/family-promise-shares-progress-with-frame-walk/
Elected officials commemorate anniversary of Armenian genocide
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
By Signal Staff State Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger were among the Santa Clarita Valley’s elected representatives who issued statements on Wednesday commemorating Armenian Genocide Day. On Monday, Wilk presented Senate Resolution 83 to honor the 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children who were massacred by the Ottoman […]
The post Elected officials commemorate anniversary of Armenian genocide appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/elected-officials-commemorate-anniversary-of-armenian-genocide/
Ukrainians welcome long-awaited US aid package
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
News of the U.S. approval of a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine is raising optimism in that country in the face of an expected Russian assault this summer. Anna Chernikova reports from Kyiv. Camera: Vladyslav Smilianets.
https://www.voanews.com/a/ukrainians-welcome-long-awaited-us-aid-package/7583934.html
May 10: Boots In the Park Returns to Santa Clarita
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Dust off the boots and get ready to holler, because Boots In The Park making its way to back to Santa Clarita, y’all.
https://scvnews.com/may-10-boots-in-the-park-returns-to-santa-clarita/
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
Clad in black, the dark-haired woman approached the stage, and her voice resonated throughout the Multicultural Center as she performed two songs, “Andouni” and “Kanche
The post Commemorating the Armenian Genocide appeared first on .
SIROTA’S SIGNALS: Trump Could Get New Powers — With Dems’ Help
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Lever News
If bipartisan legislation passes and Trump wins, he’ll have new power to punish nonprofits he deems to be “terrorist supporting.”
https://www.levernews.com/sirotas-signals-trump-could-get-new-powers-with-dems-help/
Breaking stigmas: Go with the Flow holds DIY pad workshop
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
CSUN program Go with the Flow held a DIY pad workshop on April 10 from 2-5 p.m., where students learned how to make reusable menstrual pads. Go with the Flow…
https://sundial.csun.edu/181096/news/breaking-stigmas-go-with-the-flow-holds-diy-pad-workshop/
Yamaha XSR900 GP Gets Even More Retro With New 80s Classic Fairings
date: 2024-04-24, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
We still can’t have it and just keep rubbing our faces in it, Yamaha.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717362/yamaha-xsr900gp-rzv500-fz400r/
Barger, Wilk Recognize Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
State Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) and Supervisor Kathryn Barger honor the memory of those lost 109 years ago in Armenian Genocide.
https://scvnews.com/barger-wilk-recognize-armenian-genocide-remembrance-day/
Russia blocks UN resolution on peaceful use of outer space
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
new york — Russia blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday reaffirming the need to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space.
The measure was proposed jointly by the United States, a nuclear power, and Japan, the only nation ever to be attacked with nuclear bombs.
“We have only begun to understand the catastrophic ramifications of a nuclear explosion in space,” said U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “How it could destroy thousands of satellites operated by countries and companies around the world — and wipe out the vital communications, scientific, meteorological, agricultural, commercial and national security services we all depend on.”
The failed text recalled the responsibility of states to comply with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which is the basic framework on international space law. It says outer space is to be shared among nations and shall be free of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction. The treaty also says the moon and other celestial bodies “shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes,” and astronauts shall be “regarded as the envoys of mankind.”
The proposed resolution also called on states “not to develop nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction specifically designed to be placed in orbit around the Earth, or to be installed on celestial bodies, or to be stationed in outer space in any other manner.”
Thomas-Greenfield noted that President Vladimir Putin has said publicly that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space.
“And so, today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you are following the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them?” she asked. “What could you possibly be hiding? It’s baffling, and it’s a shame.”
Thomas-Greenfield just returned from Japan, where she visited Nagasaki, a city on which the United States dropped one of two atomic bombs at the end of World War II.
“It was a reminder of our profound responsibility to prevent the scourge of war and ensure that no place experiences the horror of nuclear weaponry ever again,” she said.
“Adopting this draft resolution would have been a positive and practical contribution to the promotion of the peaceful use and exploration of outer space,” said Japanese Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki. “If adopted, we could have demonstrated our unity in reaffirming the principle of no placement of any weapons of mass destruction in outer space and in opposing the development of such capabilities.”
The proposed resolution, which had more than 60 co-sponsors, created no new international obligations, but reaffirmed existing ones. It was supported by 13 of the 15 council members. After failing to get an amendment added to it, Russia vetoed it and China abstained.
“Today, our council is once again being involved in a dirty spectacle prepared by the U.S. and Japan,” Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said. “This is a cynical ploy. We are being tricked.”
He said Moscow wanted a text that would have gone further, banning weapons of any kind in outer space.
China’s new U.N. ambassador, Fu Cong, echoed that, saying the draft needed “other substantive elements.”
US concerns
In February, U.S. officials said Russia is developing a space-based weapon to attack satellites. They do not believe it would target people or cause destruction on Earth.
Analysts at the Washington-based Safe World Foundation think tank say on their website that Russia is most likely developing a system “that would use a nuclear explosion to create weapons effects, most likely an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), that would in turn disable or destroy satellites.”
There are thousands of satellites in space that run the gamut from sophisticated military purposes to running a car’s GPS or providing television programming.
Although the U.S. resolution was not adopted, Thomas-Greenfield said Washington would continue to pursue bilateral arms control discussions with Russia in good faith.
The U.S. also has concerns about China’s work in space, where officials say they are rapidly developing a range of counterspace weapons and using outer space to strengthen the capabilities of their military forces on Earth.
“Over the last six years they have tripled the number of intelligent surveillance and reconnaissance satellites in orbit, and they have used their space capabilities to improve the lethality, the precision and the range of their terrestrial forces,” said General Stephen Whiting, commander of the U.S. Space Command.
He spoke by phone to regional journalists Wednesday from Tokyo, where he is meeting with allies.
https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-blocks-un-resolution-on-peaceful-use-of-outer-space/7583918.html
In Memoriam Edward Fields 1952-2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
So much can be said about Edward Fields, an archivist by occupation, but also an archivist in his very nature
The post In Memoriam </br> Edward Fields </br> 1952-2024 appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/24/in-memoriam-edward-fields-1952-2024/
Google postpones phasing out third party cookies in Chrome once more
date: 2024-04-24, from: OS News
While Firefox and Safari phased out third party cookies years ago, it’s taking Chrome a bit longer because, well, daddy Google got ads to sell. As such, Google has been developing a complicated new alternative to third party cookies that it calls “Privacy sandbox”, a name in the vain of “Greenland”. This process has not exactly been going well, because Google has had to postpone phasing out third party cookies several times now, and today, they had to postpone it again. This time, however, it’s because the UK competition authority, the CMA, still has some questions. We recognize that there are ongoing challenges related to reconciling divergent feedback from the industry, regulators and developers, and will continue to engage closely with the entire ecosystem. It’s also critical that the CMA has sufficient time to review all evidence including results from industry tests, which the CMA has asked market participants to provide by the end of June. Given both of these significant considerations, we will not complete third-party cookie deprecation during the second half of Q4. We remain committed to engaging closely with the CMA and ICO and we hope to conclude that process this year. Assuming we can reach an agreement, we envision proceeding with third-party cookie deprecation starting early next year. ↫ Google’s Greenland blog Making a browser good enough to take over almost the entire browser market was an absolute master stroke by Google. Now can you all please switch over to Firefox or like Lynx or something?
Number of Affordable Units Required in Dispute for La Cumbre Housing Proposal
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Planning commission iced from oversight: Not happy.
The post Number of Affordable Units Required in Dispute for La Cumbre Housing Proposal appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Governments issue alerts after ‘sophisticated’ state-backed actor found exploiting flaws in Cisco security boxes
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Don’t get too comfortable: ‘Line Dancer’ malware may be targeting other vendors, too
A previously unknown and “sophisticated” nation-state group compromised Cisco firewalls as early as November 2023 for espionage purposes — and possibly attacked network devices made by other vendors including Microsoft, according to warnings from the networking giant and three Western governments.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/spies_cisco_firewall/
Meet a Cohort of Santa Barbara ‘Climate Stewards’
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The Community Environmental Council now offers a nine-week certification program.
The post Meet a Cohort of Santa Barbara ‘Climate Stewards’ appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/24/meet-a-cohort-of-santa-barbara-climate-stewards/
Tabloid publisher who killed stories to help Trump politically to face more questions
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
Alonzo King LINES Goes ‘Deep River’ at the Arlington in Santa Barbara
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Contemporary ballet celebrates Alonzo King’s company’s 40th anniversary.
The post Alonzo King LINES Goes ‘Deep River’ at the Arlington in Santa Barbara appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
June 7: Salvation Army SCV Announces Inaugural Donut Day Event
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The Salvation Army Santa Clarita Valley Corps is excited to announce the inaugural Donut Day event
https://scvnews.com/june-7-salvation-army-scv-announces-inaugural-donut-day-event/
Poetry Month Wrap-Up, Home-Grown Gems
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Poetry Month comes to a close, but the words keep flowing in Santa Barbara.
The post Poetry Month Wrap-Up, Home-Grown Gems appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/24/poetry-month-wrap-up-home-grown-gems/
Cantando: Mental Health Songs
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
The 80s and early aughts saw a rise in music emphasizing themes about mental health and perseverance. Following cultural shifts and the influence of pop culture, artists expressed their personal…
https://sundial.csun.edu/180976/print-editions/print-stories/cantando-mental-health-songs/
Biden signs measure aimed at targeting Captagon trade in Syria
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
Washington — Largely overlooked in the massive foreign aid package signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday is a measure that targets the trafficking of a dangerous drug in Syria.
The Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act is part of the package providing military and other aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It provides for new sanctions against individuals, entities and networks affiliated with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who produce and traffic Captagon.
Captagon is an addictive, amphetamine-like drug that is cheaply produced. Since the beginning of Syria’s civil war in 2011, the country has become a regional hub for the production and smuggling of Captagon.
“This is a good step towards accountability and hindering and dismantling Assad’s illicit drug trade in Syria and the Middle East,” the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a Washington-based advocacy group, said in a statement.
The measure is seen as a continuation of previous congressional actions that have targeted the growing Captagon trade in Syria.
Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, policy chief of the American Coalition for Syria, said the new measure was sought by the Syrian American community “to address Assad’s pervasive involvement in the Captagon drug trade, which has tragically transformed Syria into a narco-state.”
“We are encouraged by the enactment of this bill into law,” Ghanem told VOA in an email. “Its inclusion in the comprehensive legislative package which was signed by the president into law highlights Congress’ dedication to the objectives laid out in the original Captagon Act that Congress passed in Dec 2022.”
The bill was introduced to Congress by Republican Representative French Hill from Arkansas, who said Wednesday on X, “With my bill now signed into law, those directly involved with the proliferation of this dangerous drug will be targeted and sanctioned.
“It’s crucial that we take further action to disrupt and dismantle the production and trafficking of captagon as it generates billions of illicit funding for the Assad regime and devastates families in the region,” he said.
Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, two major backers of the Syrian government, have also been involved in drug trafficking in Syria. Observers say the trade also has funded Tehran’s military activities in the region.
Caroline Rose, director of the Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the Washington-based New Lines Institute, said the bill is part of a broader U.S. strategy that seeks to curb Captagon trafficking and production in the Middle East.
“We have seen two rounds of sanctions against Captagon agents imposed by the U.S. Treasury in the last two years, so this will keep the pressure on the U.S. inter-agency strategy to identify more eligible Captagon producers and traffickers to target,” she said.
Affordable Housing for Santa Barbara Unified Teachers and Staff Is in the Pipeline
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The school district has entered the preliminary stages of a housing project at the former Parma School, and also has two Goleta projects in its sights.
The post Affordable Housing for Santa Barbara Unified Teachers and Staff Is in the Pipeline appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Exploring identities and sharing stories
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
- The task was daunting, emotionally draining and
complicated—economically quantifying how slavery and its aftermath
hindered the prosperity of African Americans. When Pierce College
Economics
The post Exploring identities and sharing stories appeared first on .
Sols 4166-4167: A Garden Full of Rocks
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
Earth planning date: Wednesday April 24, 2024 Here on Earth (in Toronto, specifically), it’s a very typical April which can’t quite make up its mind about whether or not it wants to be spring. On Mars (in Gale Crater), we’re well into spring, and Curiosity is enjoying the (relatively) warmer weather. As the days get […]
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/mars-science-laboratory/sols-4166-4167-a-garden-full-of-rocks/
Brahma Blotter: April 15-21, 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
No crimes were reported between April 15-21, 2024. The crime log is made publicly available at the Pierce College Sheriff’s Office. No se reportaron crímenes
The post Brahma Blotter: April 15-21, 2024 appeared first on .
News Briefs – April 24, 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
Finalists for Pierce College President selected: Four finalists for the position of president have been selected by the Search Committee for Los Angeles Pierce College
The post News Briefs – April 24, 2024 appeared first on .
New professor, big ideas
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
An accomplished powwow dancer and singer who grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. An esteemed professor who attended Harvard University
The post New professor, big ideas appeared first on .
Review | Z Marks the Operatic Spot
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Opera Santa Barbara’s season-closing production of “Zorro” hits the mark as entertaining contemporary fare.
The post Review | Z Marks the Operatic Spot appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/24/review-z-marks-the-operatic-spot/
U.S. bilingual education standards already do enough
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese and French are some of the most spoken languages in the United States, and it shows Americans are not shying
The post U.S. bilingual education standards already do enough appeared first on .
Elevating bilingual and foreign language standards in U.S. education
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
Exploring a different language may be difficult in the beginning, and our education system in schools around the United States can always use new ways
The post Elevating bilingual and foreign language standards in U.S. education appeared first on .
We need to kick bots and take names
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
Before the COVID-19 lockdowns, the first week of the semester was a time of reviewing syllabi, getting an introduction to the course and getting acclimated
The post We need to kick bots and take names appeared first on .
Ford Will Build Profitable, Affordable Sub-$30,000 EVs
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
Ford isn’t making money selling EVs, but it’s learning that consumers want cheap EVs. Ford promises to deliver them.
https://insideevs.com/news/717373/ford-q1-2024-earnings-takeaway/
LAC Animal Care Foundation Provides $370K Grant to Support Vet@ThePark
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation has approved $370,000 in funding to support the Vet@ThePark program operated by the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control
HMD’s Pulse smartphones are the company’s first to shun the Nokia brand
date: 2024-04-24, from: Liliputing
HMD Global has been the company responsible for pretty much every Nokia-branded smartphone that’s hit the streets since 2017. But earlier this year the company hinted that it was going to start producing some phones that would be sold under its own brand. Now the first of those phones have arrived. Unfortunately they’re not as […]
The post HMD’s Pulse smartphones are the company’s first to shun the Nokia brand appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/hmds-pulse-smartphones-are-the-companys-first-to-shun-the-nokia-brand/
Tesla (TSLA) surges on Elon Musk trying to ride AI wave
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla’s stock (TSLA) surged 12% today, one of its best days in a long time, as Elon Musk tries to position Tesla to ride the artificial intelligence wave.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/tesla-tsla-surges-elon-musk-trying-to-ride-ai-wave/
American Solar Is in a Trade War With Itself
date: 2024-04-24, from: Heatmap News
The American solar industry is in a tizzy over tariffs. On one side are the companies that develop, finance, and install solar systems. On the other, the American (or American-located) companies that manufacture them.
China’s solar panel industry has been a combination of boon and bugaboo for American renewable energy efforts for years. On the one hand, the solar development sector has benefitted from the cheap panels they have happily put up on roofs and in fields across the country, underpinning the massive growth of solar power in the past decade.
And then on the other there’s the still-nascent American solar manufacturing industry (and a South Korean company with a substantial facility in Georgia), which joined together to file petitions with the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission Wednesday, beseeching them to investigate what it argues are violations of trade laws by Chinese-owned solar panel manufacturers in Southeast Asia.
The group claims that China’s 80% market share in solar products is a “near monopoly” underpinned by “unfair trade practices,” including subsidies and selling at below-cost. About two-thirds of installed solar panels come from overseas, the group claims, “with the majority arriving without safeguard measures or tariffs from China via Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.” The Southeast Asian imports the petition targets are worth some $12 billion annually.
“America’s solar manufacturing industry is on the cusp of tremendous
growth that will create jobs and change the trajectory of our clean
energy transition for decades to come,” Tim Brightbill, a lawyer
representing the group,
said
in a release. “However, this manufacturing renaissance is being
threatened by China’s industrial policy, which has led to massive
subsidization in China and Southeast Asia.”
The solar manufacturers’ petition comes as a two-year moratorium on tariffs against Chinese solar panels is due to expire next month. Solar developers had been lobbying the White House to boost other kinds of support for American solar manufacturing, hoping to head off any push for new tariffs, Bloomberg reported. But according to Reuters, the administration is inclined to take the protectionist side.
“Reducing reliance on Chinese clean energy imports, such as solar panels, is among the most bipartisan issues within clean energy,” Morningstar analyst Brett Castelli wrote in a note. For Republicans, China‘s solar dominance represents yet another strategic asset controlled by an adversary state. For Democrats, they are choking off a burgeoning American manufacturing sector.
And yet the question is not as simple as support U.S. solar or don’t. The likely “tightening of solar panel imports into the U.S. would benefit First Solar,” an American solar manufacturer that’s part of the petitioning group, Castelli wrote, “while being a net negative for the rest of our solar sector coverage.”
The Biden administration has long put itself squarely behind American solar. The Inflation Reduction Act’s advanced manufacturing production credit subsidizes domestic renewable energy manufacturing in the United States, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has criticized Chinese “overcapacity” in renewable energy technology. On the installer side, there are tax credits and subsidy programs to make solar more affordable to individuals.
While the solar manufacturers certainly are not unhappy with their tax credits, they see action on trade as an existential issue.
“Everyone knows these Chinese-headquartered companies in Southeast Asia are benefiting from subsidies and exporting below-cost solar into the U.S. market, harming American solar manufacturers and their workers,” Mike Carr, the executive director of the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America Coalition, said in a statement. “Conditions are untenable for American solar manufacturers.”
Other renewable energy trade groups — The American Council on Renewable Energy, the American Clean Power Association, and Advanced Energy United — call tariffs a threat to clean energy deployment. The manufacturers’ petition “creates market uncertainty in the U.S. solar industry and poses a potential threat to the build-out of a domestic solar supply chain,” the groups said in a statement, which also noting that they support a “strong domestic solar supply chain,” and specifically the tax credits that encourage onshore production of solar panels.
But while trade groups lament the stoking of trade war to anyone who will listen, companies — or at least one very big company — is telling its investors that things are going to be OK.
NextEra, one of the country’s largest renewable energy developers and operators, has been telling investors and analysts that the petitions and potential tariffs would not be a big deal.
“We expect that any trade actions that would occur this time around will be very manageable,” NextEra CEO John Ketchum said on the company’s quarterly earnings call Tuesday. The company didn’t expect any potential trade restriction “to result in delivery stoppages,” he added, and since NextEra orders panels well before actual construction on a project commences, that “gives us a lot of time and opportunity to be able to troubleshoot any issues should they arise,” Ketchum said.
Finally, even if there were new tariffs, the gap in cost between domestic and overseas panels – the exact thing that the solar manufacturers and the Biden administration lament — is so large that “there’s a lot of economic reasons for deliveries to continue to occur.” Even a 15% tariff on Chinese solar panels, Ketchum said, would be “quite manageable.”
While everyone says they want an American solar manufacturing industry to succeed, trade protection and tax credits can only go so far.
https://heatmap.news/economy/solar-tariffs-us-china
With Run:ai acquisition, Nvidia aims to manage your AI kubes
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Now Jensen has a control plane to play with his army of NIMs
Nvidia on Wednesday announced the acquisition of AI-centric Kubernetes orchestration provider Run:ai in an effort to help bolster the efficiency of computing clusters built on GPU.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/runai_acquisition_nvidia/
Bird Flu Virus Detected in Pasteurized Milk, as U.S. Moves to Test More Dairy Cows
date: 2024-04-24, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The FDA maintains that the commercial milk supply is safe, and it plans to report results of further tests in the coming days and weeks
Production Kia EV3 Compact EV Reveals Its Silhouette In First Teaser
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
The EV3 will be about the size of the Kia Niro and should be priced from around $30,000.
https://insideevs.com/news/717350/kia-ev3-teased/
Apple releases OpenELM, a slightly more accurate LLM
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
It’s not the fastest machine learning model, but you can’t have everything
Apple, not normally known for its openness, has released a generative AI model called OpenELM which apparently outperforms a set of other language models trained on public data sets.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/apple_openelm_ai/
The Marshall Star for April 24, 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
NASA Announces 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge Winners NASA announced the winners of the 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) April 22, with Parish Episcopal School, from Dallas, winning first place in the high school division, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville,capturing the college/university title. The annual engineering competition – one of NASA’s longest standing challenges […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/marshall/the-marshall-star-for-april-24-2024/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Sidenotes.
https://www.markllobrera.com/posts/sidenotes/
Ford’s EV unit weighs on Q1 2024 earnings as Pro remains the dark horse
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Amid a shifting strategy, Ford (F) reported first-quarter earnings Wednesday, beating analyst expectations. However, due to fierce pricing pressure, Ford’s EV revenue fell 84% in Q1 2024.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/fords-evs-weigh-q1-2024-earnings-pro-remains-dark-horse/
Archaeologists May Have Found the Villa Where the Roman Emperor Augustus Died
date: 2024-04-24, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Excavations north of Mount Vesuvius revealed Roman ruins buried by the eruption in 79 C.E.
Daily Deals (4-24-2024)
date: 2024-04-24, from: Liliputing
The Asus ROG Flow X13 is an unusual gaming laptop in that it’s a thin and light notebook with relatively powerful integrated graphics, and support for NVIDIA graphics – but the discrete GPU is optional. Entry-level models ship without discrete graphics, but all models can be used with an Asus ROG XG Mobile external graphics dock […]
The post Daily Deals (4-24-2024) appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/daily-deals-4-24-2024/
CDPH Urges Californians to Support Prescription Drug Take Back Day
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The California Department of Public Health is encouraging Californians to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April
Musk moves Tesla’s goalposts, investors happily move shares higher
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
It’s the millions-of-robotaxis promise again – and all y’all buying it this time, too?
Opinion Elon Musk has a strategy and you may have seen it before: When things aren’t going well, he’ll say something wild to take everyone’s eyes off the trouble, and raise share prices with dreams.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/musk_moves_tesla_goalposts_back/
@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed (date: 2024-04-24, from: Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed)
Godot on iPad, now debugging side-by-side the game.
The SwiftUI UI is mostly hidden in this one:
https://mastodon.social/@Migueldeicaza/112328005668118023
Windows 11 Start Menu begins showing “recommended” Microsoft Store apps
date: 2024-04-24, from: Liliputing
A few weeks after rolling out a beta test of a feature that displays “recommendations to help you discover great apps from the Microsoft Store” in the Windows 11 Start Menu, Microsoft has announced that the feature has already graduated from beta and is now rolling out with the latest update to stable versions of […]
The post Windows 11 Start Menu begins showing “recommended” Microsoft Store apps appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/windows-11-start-menu-begins-showing-recommended-microsoft-store-apps/
Modern EV Batteries Rarely Fail: Study
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
The stats were worrying initially, but things improved significantly after 2015.
https://insideevs.com/news/717187/ev-battery-replacements-due-failure-study/
Tesla expects its 4680 battery cells to be cheaper than suppliers by end of year
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla now says that it expects its own 4680 battery cells to become cheaper than those coming from suppliers by the end of the year.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/tesla-expects-4680-battery-cells-cheaper-than-suppliers-end-of-year/
MOONDROP MIAD01 will be a HiFi smartphone with 3.5mm and 4.4mm audio jacks
date: 2024-04-24, from: Liliputing
At a time when most smartphone makers are dropping headphone jacks altogether, HiFi audio company MOONDROP has announced that its upcoming smartphone will not only support headphones designed to plug into 3.5mm jacks, but also supports 4.4mm audio connectors. The phone is called the MOONDROP MIAD01, and the company describes it as a “5G HiFi mobile […]
The post MOONDROP MIAD01 will be a HiFi smartphone with 3.5mm and 4.4mm audio jacks appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/moondrop-miad01-is-a-hifi-smartphone-with-3-5mm-and-4-4mm-audio-jacks/
Test21
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
Please Disgregard. This is a test.
https://science.nasa.gov/uncategorized/test21/
Shouldn’t Teams, Zoom, Slack all interoperate securely for the Feds? Wyden is asking
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Doctorow: ‘The most amazing part is that this isn’t already the way it’s done’
Collaboration software used by federal government agencies — this includes apps from Microsoft, Zoom, Slack, and Google — will be required to work together and be securely end-to-end encrypted, if legislation proposed by US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) passes.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/wyden_government_interoperability/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
My Dinner With Andreessen.
https://prospect.org/power/2024-04-24-my-dinner-with-andreessen/
Teslas Have Cheapest 10-Year Maintenance Costs: Consumer Reports
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
Tesla beats out Toyota on estimated maintenance and repair costs, according to a new study.
https://insideevs.com/news/717341/tesla-cheapest-repair-maintenance-costs/
Biden signs $95 billion foreign aid package
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation Wednesday providing $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of tense negotiations in Congress. VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports on what’s next.
https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-signs-95-billion-foreign-aid-package-/7583602.html
Supes Proclaim May as Mental Health Awareness Month
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion, introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath, proclaiming May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Los Angeles County
📬 Quick Answers
date: 2024-04-24, from: Interesting, a blog on writing
Questions from the past with evergreen responses.
https://inneresting.substack.com/p/quick-answers
No longer a US priority, is Afghanistan a Central Asia problem now?
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
Washington — Afghanistan’s Central Asian neighbors are holding out hope that America, based on its pledges at September’s C5+1 summit, will expand its role in this neighborhood. The wish list includes delivering more humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, facilitating the expansion of trade, and combating the threats of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
Officials speaking with VOA suggest that more aid could be channeled into Afghanistan via Uzbekistan. Additionally, Washington could offer more military assistance to Central Asian states and tangibly support their regional connectivity initiatives.
While no country has formally announced diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government, Central Asian nations have been engaging with the Taliban based on mutual interests, such as security, trade, and water sharing. Uzbekistan, which has extensive political and economic ties with Kabul, has been urging the West and the larger international community not to isolate Afghanistan.
Nearly three years since the withdrawal of American forces, U.S. officials insist that they have not abandoned Afghanistan, pointing to ongoing efforts and consultations with Central Asian counterparts. However, they admit Washington’s priorities have shifted to other issues, such as Russia’s war on Ukraine.
“It will take the U.S. a decade or two to recover from the fact that we lost the war,” said David Sedney, a veteran diplomat and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia. “It took us 20 years before we were able to engage in Vietnam in a productive way,” he told VOA.
Scott Worden, who heads the Afghanistan and Central Asia programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace, thinks that Central Asian governments overestimate Washington’s leverage.
“There are a lot of issues in the world that have to be addressed simultaneously,” he noted in an interview with VOA. “They [the U.S.] are balancing the leverage that they have against issues that are manageable and maybe achievable versus ones like women’s rights, which I think the administration cares strongly about.”
“It’s just a really tough situation,” Worden added. “In my view, you should not condition humanitarian assistance. Any economic sanctions wind up hurting the Afghans that we want to support. It’s a difficult balance, and so I don’t think there is any obvious additional tool or leverage that could be deployed that they’re withholding.”
Some Western nations including the United States, however, have filtered humanitarian aid programs through partner organizations that circumvent Taliban officials and deliver aid directly to Afghan civilians.
According to USAID, the U.S. supplied nearly $81 million in Afghan humanitarian aid in fiscal year 2024, and has supplied total funding for Afghanistan of “more than $2 billion since August 2021 … including more than $1.5 billion in [USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance] funding and nearly $550 million in [the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration] funding.”
“Provided through international partners on the ground,” says USAID, this assistance helps “meet the needs of the most vulnerable through food and cash support, nutrition, health care, protection for women and children, and agricultural inputs to support Afghans in meeting their immediate food needs.”
Like Sedney, Worden suggests being realistic. “There is ample opportunity for the U.S. and other international partners to talk to the Taliban when they want to.”
“This is all part of a very difficult global conversation,” he said.
But for Frederick Starr, chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, known for advocating closer ties with the region, Afghanistan is “utterly ignored right now.”
Starr emphasizes that this country is critical for regional integration and stability, two goals the U.S. has long vowed to support.
Sedney observes that “not many people want to talk about Afghanistan,” not just in Washington but in other Western capitals as well.
Speaking last week at the American Foreign Policy Council, these experts stressed that America’s two decades of involvement in Afghanistan left it with an obligation to go beyond the status quo.
Starr approves of the steps Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have taken with Afghanistan, particularly regarding commerce, energy supply and water resources.
Other observers, however, warn about tensions between the Taliban and Tajikistan, which officially supports the National Resistance Front, an armed alliance of anti-Taliban forces that is loyal to the previous regime and carries out guerrilla attacks in Afghanistan. Dushanbe continues to host the previous government’s ambassador.
Worden identifies several key interests and objectives for Washington, most of which align with those of the region. The first and most important objective is counterterrorism, ensuring that Afghan territory is never again used to launch attacks on the U.S. or its allies.
Others include negotiations on American hostages; the evacuation of Afghans that the U.S. promised to help following its withdrawal; women’s rights and other human rights; humanitarian assistance; and economic development.
Perhaps the most abstract interest, according to Worden, “is trying to maintain an international diplomatic consensus on the broad conditions and expectations that we have for the Taliban, which include in the endgame a more inclusive society that is not a threat to itself and for its neighbors as well as these U.S. interests.”
“It’s remarkable that no country in the world has recognized the Taliban,” he said, adding, however, that he sees a divergence between Western-allied emphasis on human rights and women’s rights and the neighboring countries’ economic and security concerns.
In Worden’s view, the U.S. is pursuing a policy of “quiet engagement” on humanitarian assistance and counterterrorism. At the same time, there is a firm position of non-recognition and not wanting to legitimize the Taliban.
“Can this dualism sustain over time?” asked Worden, who also sees a cleavage developing, where countries in the region will over time increase engagement with those in power in Afghanistan to achieve their economic and security interests. “Not that they like the Taliban, but they feel like talking to them is better than not.”
Regardless of who inhabits the White House next January, Worden doubts that U.S. attention toward Afghanistan will increase unless there is an “acute crisis.”
Republicans tend to “prefer coercion to engagement when you’re talking about regimes that we don’t have much in common with,” he said. “So yes, there is the wild card of potentially making a great deal, but I think the odds of support for armed opposition would increase.”
U.S.-based Afghan journalist Samy Mahdi, who runs Amu Television out of Virginia, points out that the Taliban enjoy close relations with America’s adversaries, such as Iran, Russia and China. He argues that U.S. assistance has brought about minimum results, and that the Taliban is as radical and dangerous as it was in the 1990s.
Mahdi recommends a full review of U.S. policy.
“More communication and transparency are needed on Afghanistan,” he said at the American Foreign Policy Council forum. “We don’t hear much from the U.S. administration about Afghanistan.”
Rivian design boss shares how R2 builds off R1S and R1T at a lower price
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Rivian wants to shake up the industry with its next-generation R2 electric vehicle. Starting at around $45,000, the R2 is expected to open up a new market of buyers. How does Rivian plan to keep its rugged luxury feel at a lower price? The company’s design boss explains.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/rivian-r2-builds-off-r1s-r1t-at-lower-price-design-boss/
Facing repression in China, Muslims seek freedom in NYC
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
In a dramatic surge, U.S. border patrol authorities detained more than 24,000 Chinese citizens crossing the southern border in fiscal year 2023, a 12-fold increase from the previous year. Many come seeking asylum, and among those that do, a small group of China’s ethnic Hui Muslims stands out. Aron Ranen brings us the story from the Big Apple.
https://www.voanews.com/a/facing-repression-in-china-muslims-seek-freedom-in-nyc/7583028.html
May 9: Blues Traveler to Perform at PAC
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The Grammy-award winning rock ‘n’ roll group Blues Traveler will take the stage of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. May 9.
https://scvnews.com/may-9-blues-traveler-to-perform-at-pac/
Investor expectations shift as consumer prices surge unexpectedly
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
U.S. consumer prices rose last month by a bigger-than-expected amount in a surprise development that jolted expectations of the economy and could induce investors to further adjust predictions for interest…
Passionately Accessible: UCS’ commitment to helping students
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
Colleges were shutting down across the country amid COVID-19’s rapid spread in 2020, and California State University, Northridge students needed support in a manner yet explored on campus. Amid the…
What are the roles of the US House and Senate?
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
As the legislative branch of the United States government, Congress is responsible for proposing and passing the nation’s laws. But in recent years, fewer and fewer laws have been making their way to the president’s desk to be signed.
https://www.voanews.com/a/what-are-the-roles-of-the-us-house-and-senate/7583584.html
This Rare Condition Makes Some People Get Drunk, Even When They Haven’t Touched a Drop of Alcohol
date: 2024-04-24, from: Smithsonian Magazine
A man in Belgium was acquitted of drunk driving charges this week, after doctors showed he has auto-brewery syndrome, which makes his body produce alcohol
Now all Windows 11 users are getting adverts to ‘make the Start menu great again’
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
And you thought the Bing begging was annoying
Microsoft has made good on its promise, or threat, to put advertisements inside the Windows 11 Start menu with its latest update.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/adverts_windows_11/
The ‘World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing’ Will Help Animals Walk Safely Over Eight Lanes of California Traffic
date: 2024-04-24, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The 210-foot-long bridge across a busy freeway in Los Angeles County is expected to be finished in 2025
MKBHD Says The Toyota BZ4X Is A Good Electric Car With One Big Flaw
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
The tech reviewer spent over a week with a Toyota bZ4X and he really liked it except for its limited range, especially in winter.
https://insideevs.com/news/717273/marques-brownlee-toyota-bz4x-review/
Give Us the Dumbphone EV
date: 2024-04-24, from: Heatmap News
If you haven’t heard, the dumbphone is back. Vexed by their emotionally ruinous smartphone addiction, plenty of people, including those of the tech-savvy younger generations, are turning their backs on iPhones and Androids to embrace internet-free cellphones that walked right out of the 1990s.
The impossibility of TikTok is not the dumbphone’s only winning feature. Flagship smartphones are expensive and delicate. Despite Apple’s soft cooing about the iPhone’s beautiful facade, you must shield that design behind a plastic case at all times, lest you drop your $1,200 investment and ruin it. Dumbphones, though, are rugged and cheap. They do their job without fuss or pretense. They are an appliance, and they know it.
This attitude needs to come to electric cars.
Ever since the rise of Tesla, it’s become a popular cliche to say electric vehicles are just smartphones on wheels, closer in spirit to the devices of Silicon Valley than to the combustion cars of Detroit. The comparison is apt. In addition to running on a large lithium-ion battery, today’s EVs are typically controlled through massive touchscreens. They are reliant upon software that receives over-the-air updates to fix its bugs and upgrade its features, just like your phone.
Like your mobile device, today’s EVs tend to present themselves as closed boxes not to be tinkered with. Some people go to the trouble of fixing a cracked screen or a withered battery to keep their smartphone running longer. For the most part, though, the tech giants have convinced people over the past two decades that phones should be replaced, not repaired, once they start to show their age.
Positioning EVs as fancy gadgets was a natural strategy to get Americans to lust after them, and to differentiate them from the gas-powered vehicles that came from an analog age. And it’s not hard to see why electric car makers would be keen to copy the “replace-don’t-repair” dynamic that arose around phones (to say nothing of the subscription creep that will ask you to pay extra monthly fees for car features).
But there’s no rule that says it must be this way. Electric cars don’t have to be defined by smartphone aesthetics and touchscreens and proprietary software; they don’t have to present as impenetrable to the garage mechanic. There is a better world where they are not only less expensive but also purposefully modular and obviously repairable, where parts, including the battery, could be swapped in to keep the car on the road as long as possible. They could feel rugged, like an old Buick LeSabre that just runs forever, rather than fragile and disposable.
I’m not just harping on this because America needs a simpler, more affordable EV to help the transition to electric. It’s also a sustainability issue. Gas-powered cars have grown more reliable and long-lasting over the years, and their increasing longevity means the average auto could be expected to reach 12 years and 200,000 miles, with lots of fluids, belts, brake pads, spark plugs, and cracked gaskets replaced along the way. They just keep on chugging, and emitting.
Electric cars are mechanically simpler. So it’s possible that, if their major components could be easily replaced, the vehicles themselves could last even longer, like an electric car of Theseus. It’s been done, even with today’s EVs. A 10-year-old Tesla Model S in Europe reportedly just surpassed 2 million kilometers, or about 1.24 million miles on the odometer. The EV has been through four battery packs and 14 motors to reach that wild total.
Few EV owners will go this hard to keep their vehicle on the road, but plenty of them will be presented with a simpler choice. The battery warranty of a current EV typically expires at 100,000 miles, and guarantees only that the pack won’t suffer more than 30 percent degradation during that time. Afterward, you’re on your own. So when a battery goes kaput at 150,000 miles, or has lost half its original range, EV drivers will face the classic car conundrum: whether to sink more money into an old car or buy a new one.
If the cost of batteries and motors really does fall in the near future once EVs go mainstream and technology advances, then more people will choose the former. What would make that choice even easier, however, is the feeling that your vehicle was really built for the long haul — that, unlike your phone, it isn’t simply one software update it can’t handle from becoming obsolete.
The alternative vision of EVs is out there. When I was first covering the Maker Faire hacker festival a dozen years ago, there were already guys out there who’d teach you how to hack a first-generation Mazda into a dead-simple electric car. (In the garage at Caltech, where I work, there’s someone who’s clearly done the same to a 1980s Porsche.) Like replacing 14 motors in an old Tesla, this is much more than the ordinary car owner wants to undertake. But it shows what is possible.
Tesla is apparently back in the race to make an affordable American EV, though it’s impossible to ever imagine the little Tesla being a dumbphone on wheels. Others, like Ford, are still trying. Perhaps with its EVs to come, the big Detroit brand can channel the spirit of the Ford Escort I drove in college: a plucky underdog that keeps on running, no matter how many people back into you in that icy parking lot.
https://heatmap.news/electric-vehicles/dumbphone
New York State’s largest solar + storage carport breaks ground at JFK airport
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
New York State’s largest onsite solar plus storage project – a solar carport canopy at JFK International Airport – has begun construction.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/new-york-state-largest-solar-storage-carport-jfk-airport/
We’re At This Year’s Beijing Auto Show. What Do You Want To Know?
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
There are hundreds of exhibitors this year, with tons of Chinese and foreign brands fighting hard in a highly competitive EV market.
https://insideevs.com/news/717356/2024-auto-china-beijing-show/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Meta AI is a serious ChatGPT rival.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91110823/meta-ai-facebook-instagram-whatsapp-messenger
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Recommend this podcast with Joe Trippi explaining how RFK is a missile from Trump aimed at Biden. Pretty convincing.
https://newrepublic.com/article/180912/dont-fooled-heres-know-rfk-jr-tacitly-boosting-trump
The Rise Of Big Oil’s Zombie Pipelines
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Lever News
Big Oil is fighting to limit safety protections to expedite its build-out of experimental carbon dioxide pipelines, endangering nearby communities.
https://www.levernews.com/the-rise-of-big-oils-zombie-pipelines/
Elon Musk Is Bored Of The Car Industry. That’s A Problem For Tesla
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
It is entirely possible that Tesla could kick off a new autonomy arms race for the 2020s. But it has to get there first.
https://insideevs.com/news/717345/tesla-q1-2024-earnings-analysis/
Biden, Burisma, and Ukraine: Why Moscow’s Evolving Narrative of the Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack Matters for U.S. Elections
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: RAND blog
With the U.S. elections drawing nearer, careful attention should be paid to attempts by foreign actors to influence American voters. By accusing Burisma of sponsoring terrorist attacks in Russia and making loose insinuations that President Biden, the United States, and Western intelligence agencies are somehow connected as well, Russian disinformation campaigns are actively working to undermine and influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Snapdragon X Plus will bring ARM to ‘even more’ Windows laptops
date: 2024-04-24, from: OS News
While it’s still yet to debut, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite is looking like a big deal for ARM-powered Windows machines and, now, it’s getting a more affordable cousin in the Snapdragon X Plus. Announced today, Snapdragon X Plus is based on the same Oryon CPU as Snapdragon X Elite, just with a bit less power. The chip has 10 cores to the Elite’s 12, and is also clocked down from the Elite’s 3.8GHz to 3.4GHz. ↫ Ben Schoon at 9To5Google It really seems like it’s finally happening – ARM computers for the general public (that aren’t from Apple). I really hope that Qualcomm can deliver on its promises, and that Microsoft’s involvement means these computers will be fairly standardised so it’s easier for non-Windows platforms to support them. I’ve seen quite a few rumblings from people invited to Qualcomm’s press events for these new ARM chips that the company is delivering Linux support alongside Windows support, so that’s at least a good start. Whenever we talk about ARM coming to the generic PC market, people rightfully point out the lack of standardisation in the ARM space, so that really is the deciding factor here for people like us, who tend to not be all too interested in locked-down platforms. If every one of these machines is different enough that supporting them is a nightmare – like the world of smartphones – ARM for PCs will be dead on arrival for me because I have zero interest in buying Windows-only hardware. One thing Microsoft tends to be good at is getting at least some standardisation to stick in the PC market, and I hope they’re going to that here, too – Microsoft probably isn’t relishing supporting each individual ARM machine in Windows ‘by hand’ either. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139421/snapdragon-x-plus-will-bring-arm-to-even-more-windows-laptops/
First discounts on new Goal Zero power stations, $500 off GoTRax Everest e-dirt bike, and more
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Today’s Green Deals are lead by the fourth official discount on the GoTrax Everest Electric Dirt Bike that is back at $500 off. It is joined by the first official discounts on Goal Zero’s newest power stations, the Yeti 300, 500, and 700 models that start from $240, as well as dual one-day Best Buy sales on the WORX 40V PowerShare 14-inch Cordless Electric Chainsaw for $189 and the WORX LeafPro Universal Collection System for $36. Plus all of the other days’ Green Deals that are still going.
Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.
TikTok Ban
date: 2024-04-24, from: Michael Tsai
Demetri Sevastopulo and James Fontanella-Khan (2020, Hacker News, CNBC): TikTok will be removed from US app stores from midnight on Sunday as Washington implements executive orders from President Donald Trump that also target WeChat, a Chinese social media app.[…]Oracle and ByteDance have submitted a proposal that would spin out TikTok’s global business into a new US […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/04/24/tiktok-ban/
Extending Section 702 of FISA
date: 2024-04-24, from: Michael Tsai
H.R.7888: Section 701(b)(4) is amended[…] by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph[…] any other service provider who has access to equipment that is being or may be used to transmit or store wire or electronic communications[…] Elizabeth Goitein: Buried in the Section 702 reauthorization bill (RISAA) passed by the House on Friday is […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/04/24/extending-section-702-of-fisa/
Tracking Spring Flooding
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
Ural River levels peak in this April 13, 2024, enhanced color image from Landsat 9; here, vegetation appears red, while water is blue-green. After heavy rain and rapid snowmelt, rivers in southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan swelled, flooding homes and displacing thousands of people. Landsat 9, the latest satellite in the Landsat series, contributes a […]
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/tracking-spring-flooding/
Lenovo and Micron first to implement LPCAMM2 in laptop
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
The SODIMM replacement finally arrives
Lenovo’s latest ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 laptop is set to be the first to use the new LPCAMM2 memory form factor, the successor to SODIMM sticks.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/lenovo_micron_lpcamm2_thinkpad/
US military aid to Israel under scrutiny as Biden signs $26 billion in new assistance
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
US Senate passes TikTok ban bill
date: 2024-04-24, from: OS News
A bill that would force China-based company ByteDance to sell TikTok — or else face a US ban of the platform — is all but certain to become law after the Senate passed a foreign aid package including the measure. It now heads to President Joe Biden, who already committed to signing the TikTok legislation should it make it through both chambers of Congress. The House passed the foreign aid package that includes the TikTok bill on Saturday. ↫ Lauren Feiner at The Verge I hope the EU follows.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139418/us-senate-passes-tiktok-ban-bill/
A romantic comedy, 400 years in the making
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
Featuring dramatic sword flourishes, intricate Elizabethan-style costumes, lively drum beats and comedic allusions to several classic plays, “Shakespeare in Love” isn’t subtle—and it’s not supposed
The post A romantic comedy, 400 years in the making appeared first on .
Blinken looks to boost people-to-people ties during second visit to China
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
State Department — While Washington and Beijing are divided over a range of thorny issues, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his second visit to China this week focusing first on the importance of direct engagement. It is something, he says, that is essential for addressing key issues affecting people from both countries and the world.
People-to-people ties
In a relaxed setting Wednesday, amid efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties, Blinken attended a playoff game between the Chinese Basketball Association’s Shanghai Sharks and Zhejiang Golden Bulls.
Earlier, a crowd of people gathered to watch as the motorcade of the U.S. delegation left its hotel for a local eatery, the Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. There were more onlookers who gathered when Blinken sat at a table in the restaurant’s gallery, which overlooks a courtyard.
Blinken said on social media that his “intensive face-to-face diplomacy” with officials from the People’s Republic of China is part of an “ongoing, direct engagement” that is “vital for making progress on issues that matter most to the American people and the world.”
In Beijing, Chinese officials said Blinken’s visit is part of the ongoing efforts of both nations to maintain dialogue, manage differences, promote cooperation, and enhance coordination in international affairs.
Potential sanctions on Chinese banks
The United States has warned China against its support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, as Chinese firms directly supply crucial components to Russia’s defense industry. This month, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven jointly called on China to cease transferring dual-use materials and weapons components aiding Russia’s military production.
A senior State Department official told VOA that the United States is “prepared to take steps” when necessary against Chinese firms that “severely undermine security in both Ukraine and Europe.” But he declined to give any details about those potential further U.S. sanctions.
What is clear is that the United States is considering sanctioning Chinese banks that facilitate the transfer of those materials.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said Washington stands ready to impose sanctions on Chinese banks and companies and Beijing’s leadership if they assist Russia’s military in its invasion of Ukraine.
Officials in China have dismissed Washington’s concerns.
“We firmly oppose the U.S.’s hypocritical moves of fanning the flames while deflecting the blame on China. China’s right to normal trade and economic cooperation with Russia and all other countries should not be violated. We will firmly safeguard our lawful rights and interests,” said Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a briefing this week.
Counternarcotics
China-based companies remain the largest source of precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit fentanyl that affects the United States.
Immediately after U.S. President Joe Biden’s face-to-face talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Woodsides, California, in November, the Beijing government started to take action to curtail the flow of fentanyl precursors and equipment.
For the first time in nearly three years, China submitted information related to 145 incidents to the International Narcotics Control Board’s global IONICS database, which supports global law enforcement coordination efforts to disrupt illicit synthetic drug supply chains, according to the State Department.
While the initial Chinese actions were a positive step, Washington underscored the need for continued and sustained progress.
China can strengthen coordination with the U.S. and other international partners with law enforcement information sharing, regular contributions to international databases tracking synthetic drug threats, and monitoring emerging trends, said the U.S. State Department.
Level 3: Reconsider travel to China
Despite the increase of commercial flights between the United States and China, the U.S. government has advised Americans to reconsider travel to China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions.
The State Department also advised Americans to exercise increased caution when traveling to Hong Kong and Macao due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
A senior State Department official downplayed the possibility of immediately easing warnings by lowering the travel advisory from level 3 to level 2 for China.
“We’ll, of course, re-evaluate and, as appropriate, adjust. But really, this is a pretty rigorous process,” said the official during a recent briefing.
The senior official said Washington has raised concerns with Chinese counterparts regarding specific cases of detentions and exit bans, as well as the opaque and arbitrary application of certain national security laws.
To “ensure the safety and security of American citizens” traveling abroad is among the most important responsibilities of the U.S. government, said the official.
In Beijing, Chinese officials criticized the U.S. State Department’s travel warning, calling it “unwarranted” and the “stumbling block” in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. They urged the U.S. to revise the advisory level “as soon as possible.”
BYD teases bold Ocean-M electric car powered by its new EV platform
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Another fully electric BYD vehicle is set to debut this week. Ahead of its official reveal, BYD is teasing the upcoming Ocean-M electric car, which will be based on its new EV platform.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/byd-teases-bold-ocean-m-electric-car-new-ev-platform/
A scientific search of the skies
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Round Up (Peirce College Student Paper)
A group of students and visitors sat in reclining chairs and stared in awe of the world as we know it—and this was only the
The post A scientific search of the skies appeared first on .
Paleontologists Unravel Secrets of ‘Enigmatic’ 33-Foot Prehistoric Shark After Fossil Discovery
date: 2024-04-24, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Scientists didn’t know much about Ptychodus, an ancient shark genus, because its remains were usually just fragments. Now, complete fossils reveal its body shape and hunting habits
Microsoft cannot keep its own security in order, so what hope for its add-ons customers?
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Secure-by-default… if your pockets are deep enough
Microsoft has come under fire for charging for security add-ons despite the company’s own patchy record when it comes to vulnerabilities and breaches.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/microsoft_security_addons/
EPA announces $1B in grants for electric school buses and heavy-duty vehicles
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced nearly $1 billion in grants to replace gas heavy-duty vehicles and school buses with electric vehicles.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/epa-grants-electric-school-buses-heavy-duty-vehicles/
April 23, 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-23-2024-658
Fisker Burned Through Nearly $1 Billion In 2023
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
The California-based EV maker delivered fewer than 200 Ocean crossovers after it cut prices by up to $24,000 last month.
https://insideevs.com/news/717300/fisker-1-billion-spent-layoffs-bankruptcy/
Nurses Protest ‘Deeply Troubling’ Use of AI in Hospitals
date: 2024-04-24, from: 404 Media Group
National Nurses United has repeatedly warned about the use of AI in healthcare, saying it put both patients and nurses at risk. Healthcare giants are increasingly integrating it into patient care.
https://www.404media.co/nurses-protest-ai-automation/
Tesla gives update on Cybertruck, 1,000 in a week
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla has released a rare update on Cybertruck production – confirming the production of 1,000 Cybertruck in a week.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/tesla-gives-update-cybertruck-1000-week/
Bottles of 250-Year-Old Cherries Discovered Beneath George Washington’s Home
date: 2024-04-24, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Researchers at Mount Vernon say that the stash still “bore the characteristic scent of cherry blossoms”
Manga Site Blocks Adult Content, But Only for US and UK Users
date: 2024-04-24, from: 404 Media Group
Pixiv, a Japan-based image gallery site, is enforcing new “Restrictions for Healthy Expression” for users in the US and UK.
https://www.404media.co/pixiv-manga-site-blocks-adult-content-but-only-for-us-and-uk-users/
US Chamber of Commerce to sue FTC for banning noncompetes in most jobs
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Senior execs making $150K+ will still have to abide by them, but they fall away for everyone else
The US Chamber of Commerce is saying it will sue the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for officially banning noncompete clauses in employment contracts across America.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/noncompetes_ban_ftc/
Rabbit hopes its $199 handheld AI device succeeds where the Humane $699 Ai Pin fails
date: 2024-04-24, from: Liliputing
Since ChatGPT was first released to the public in the fall of 2022, tech companies have been rushing to incorporate AI features into existing apps, operating systems, and hardware like smartphones and PCs. But this year we’re also seeing companies trying to make entirely new hardware that puts AI front and center. The first to launch was […]
The post Rabbit hopes its $199 handheld AI device succeeds where the Humane $699 Ai Pin fails appeared first on Liliputing.
You Can’t See These Scorpion Helmets Thanks to Kryptek’s Camo Patterns
date: 2024-04-24, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
They’ve gone full John Cena.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717348/scorpion-helmets-kryptek-hunting-camo/
I went to China to see the secrets of micromobility factories. Here’s what’s coming
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
I’ve spent many years covering just about every awesome light electric vehicle that has come out of China, from e-bikes and e-scooters to more obscure rides like electric three-wheelers and more. After over a decade in the digital trenches, I’ve felt mighty overdue for a firsthand look at where these fun and functional personal electric vehicles come from. So I made the trip to China and snuck my way behind the scenes at a number of factories to check out some of the biggest and most important players in the industry.
Tesla Is Losing Market Share. This Is How Much It’s Down
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
In Q1 2024, Tesla’s growth pace continued to cool off while new competitors step up.
https://insideevs.com/news/717311/tesla-market-share-2024q1/
Volkswagen unveils new Porsche-like electric SUV design, but you can’t have it
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
The Volkswagen ID. Code previews a new electric SUV aimed at younger buyers, but it won’t be available in the US. VW introduced the sleek Porsche-like electric SUV as it looks to tap into the world’s largest EV market.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/vw-unveils-new-porsche-like-ev-design-but-you-cant-have-it/
Another Boeing whistleblower comes forward – with receipts
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
What’s that? Q1 was better than expected? Pump those shares
Another Boeing whistleblower has come forward to report problems at his former employer, but that doesn’t seem to have upset shareholders, who sent shares skyward on news of a quarter bearing fewer losses than expected.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/boeing_whistleblower_q1_2024/
Qualcomm expands Snapdragon X line of laptop chips with Snapdragon X Plus and three versions of the Snapdragon X Elite
date: 2024-04-24, from: Liliputing
The first Windows laptops with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series processors are expected to launch in mid-2024 and Qualcomm has been making big promises about the kind of performance we can expect from those systems. But up until now the company has been relatively quiet about the specific chips that will be available to PC makers. […]
The post Qualcomm expands Snapdragon X line of laptop chips with Snapdragon X Plus and three versions of the Snapdragon X Elite appeared first on Liliputing.
Dynabook Portégé X40L-M is a 2.3 pound business laptop with Meteor Lake-H, a 65Wh battery and a full set of ports
date: 2024-04-24, from: Liliputing
The new Dynabook Portégé X40L-M is a thin and light business laptop with a 14 inch, 1920 x 1200 pixel display, support for up to a 28-watt Intel Core Ultra 7 165H processor, and a body that measures just 16mm (0.6 inches) thick and weighs just 1.05 kilograms (about 2.3 pounds). Despite its slim size, the […]
The post Dynabook Portégé X40L-M is a 2.3 pound business laptop with Meteor Lake-H, a 65Wh battery and a full set of ports appeared first on Liliputing.
BMW unveils 2025 i4 with a reimagined gloss black front end and sportier digitized interior
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
BMW USA has shared initial details of its 2025 model year i4 EV ahead of the all-electric sedan’s official launch this summer. Updates include a redesigned front fascia (all hail the kidney!), new exterior colors, and a digitized interior with sportier textiles.
SunPower ceases residential installations, lays off 1,000
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR) just sent an email to its employees saying that it will “wind down” residential solar installations and lay off 1,000 employees.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/sunpower-ceases-residential-installations-lays-off-1000/
Manufacturing comes out of its own private recession
date: 2024-04-24, from: Marketplace Morning Report
Call it a manufacturing resurrection: Orders for durable goods — big-ticket items from washing machines to airplanes — rose 2.6% in March. It’s a sign that manufacturing is coming back online and the economy is getting get back to where the Fed wants it to be. Plus, it’s earnings season. How are companies doing so far? Then, we head to the Spanish city of Algeciras, where one out of four people is unemployed.
Hyundai Motor Group U.S. EV Sales Outpaced Ford And GM In Q1 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
The South Korean manufacturer was the top automotive group in terms of all-electric car sales after Tesla.
https://insideevs.com/news/717027/automotive-groups-us-ev-sales-2024q1/
Management company settles for $18.4M after nuclear weapons plant staff fudged their timesheets
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
The firm ’fessed up to staff misconduct and avoided criminal liability
A company contracted to manage an Amarillo, Texas nuclear weapons facility has to pay US government $18.4 million in a settlement over allegations that its atomic technicians fudged their timesheets to collect more money from Uncle Sam.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/management_company_settles_for_184m/
JSR Is Not Another Package Manager
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: Deno blog
JSR introduces a new way to share JavaScript and TypeScript code across platforms, focusing on simplifying distribution without replacing existing package managers.
https://deno.com/blog/jsr-is-not-another-package-manager
NASA’s Chandra Releases Doubleheader of Blockbuster Hits
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
New movies of two of the most famous objects in the sky — the Crab Nebula and Cassiopeia A — are being released from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. Each includes X-ray data collected by Chandra over about two decades. They show dramatic changes in the debris and radiation remaining after the explosion of two massive […]
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/chandra/nasas-chandra-releases-doubleheader-of-blockbuster-hits/
Kiyun Kim: From Intern to Accessibility Advocate
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
Kiyun Kim began at Goddard as a summer intern. Impressed by the center’s community bonds, Kim is now co-chair of a center resource group that champions accessibility and inclusivity. Name: Kiyun KimTitle: Software EngineerOrganization: Ground Software Systems Branch (Code 583) What do you do at Goddard Space Flight Center? I’m a software engineer on the […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/kiyun-kim-from-intern-to-accessibility-advocate/
Tesla now plans electric semi truck volume production in ‘late 2025’
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla has updated its timeline for Tesla Semi, its all-electric semi truck, with now a plan to reach volume production in “late 2025.”
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/tesla-plans-electric-semi-truck-volume-production-late-2025/
Google cools on cookie phase-out while regulators chew on plans
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Privacy Sandbox slips into 2025 after challenges from UK authorities
Google’s plan to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome is being postponed to 2025 amid wrangling with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/google_delays_cookie_cull/
The 2024 Beijing Auto Show Is Here And Everybody Wants A Piece
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
Plus, how Volvo pulled off the China-made EX30, and Ford faces a tough earnings call of its own.
https://insideevs.com/news/717321/beijing-auto-show-critical-materials/
Ecologists Struggle to Get a Grip on ‘Keystone Species’
date: 2024-04-24, from: Quanta Magazine
More than 50 years after Bob Paine’s experiment with starfish, hundreds of species have been pronounced “keystones” in their ecosystems. Has the powerful metaphor lost its mathematical meaning?The post Ecologists Struggle to Get a Grip on ‘Keystone Species’ first appeared on Quanta Magazine
https://www.quantamagazine.org/ecologists-struggle-to-get-a-grip-on-keystone-species-20240424/
Volvo’s low-cost EX30 EV is already living up to its promise to deliver profitable growth
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Despite its compact size, Volvo’s low-cost EX30 is already making a big impact. After launching just months ago, the new Volvo EX30 is already living up to its promise of delivering profitable growth.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/volvos-low-cost-ex30-ev-already-living-up-to-promise/
The Mini Aceman Is An Electric City Crossover With Up To 252 Miles Of WLTP Range
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
Say hello to Mini’s new entry-level crossover. Again.
https://insideevs.com/news/717331/mini-aceman-electric-official-specs-range/
Support for Miramar Plan
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
I recently attended the Montecito Association meeting discussing the Miramar plan, and I regret not having had the opportunity to voice my support for the plan.
The post Support for Miramar Plan appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/24/support-for-miramar-plan/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Does the O'Reilly "Radar" site have a feed? I'd like to subscribe.
https://www.oreilly.com/radar/
US charges Iranians with cyber snooping on government, companies
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Their holiday options are now far more restricted
The US has charged and sanctioned four Iranian nationals for their alleged roles in various attacks on US companies and government departments, all of whom are claimed to have worked for fake companies linked to Iran’s military.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/iranians_charged_cyber_espionage/
Pro-Palestine organizations stage ‘Gaza Solidarity Occupation’ at Alumni Park, latest in national wave
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Protesters have been setting up tarps and signs since before sunrise Wednesday, demanding USC take action against “the genocide in Palestine.”
The post Pro-Palestine organizations stage ‘Gaza Solidarity Occupation’ at Alumni Park, latest in national wave appeared first on Daily Trojan.
Tesla Model 3 Performance With 103,000 Miles: Battery Health And Range Revealed
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
This owner discusses other topics too, like range loss, maintenance and service costs and even depreciation.
https://insideevs.com/news/714060/2019-tesla-model-3-ownership-experience/
‘Gaza Solidarity Occupation’ at USC — live updates
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Protesters have been setting up camp since before sunrise on Wednesday, demanding USC take action against “the genocide in Palestine.” The Daily Trojan is live on the ground.
The post ‘Gaza Solidarity Occupation’ at USC — live updates appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/gaza-solidarity-occupation-to-at-alumni-park-live-updates/
Three arrested at Cal Poly Humboldt as students occupy Siemens Hall
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
An occupation of Siemens hall at Cal Poly Humboldt that started Monday is ongoing. Every entrance to the building was barricaded Tuesday morning, after activists successfully kept out a line of police in riot gear from evacuating students.
Oracle changes its tune with HQ move to Music City
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Nashville ‘ticked all the boxes’ for Big Red’s employees, says founder Ellison
Oracle co-founder and CTO Larry Ellison has confirmed that the tech giant plans to move its global headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/oracle_headquarters_nashville/
Tesla Supercharging Station Deployment Accelerated In Q1 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
In Q1, Tesla deployed 297 new stations and 2,687 new stalls.
https://insideevs.com/news/717202/tesla-supercharging-network-deployment-2024q1/
US banning TikTok? Your key questions answered
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
No, TikTok will not suddenly disappear from your phone. Nor will you go to jail if you continue using it after it is banned.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/24/us-banning-tiktok-your-key-questions-answered/
Tesla misses the mark on all fronts in quarter of chaos
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Who cares that net profit slid 55%? Not Wall Street
In a dynamic first quarter, Elon Musk’s Tesla contended with a terrorist organization, survived an arson attempt, and fiercely competed with hybrid car makers, all against a backdrop of falling prices as competition for electric vehicle customers intensified.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/tesla_q1_2024/
Could fallout from the latest Oakland police discipline scandal jeopardize an end to federal oversight?
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
The discipline could deal a significant blow to the Oakland Police Department’s command staff just before new Chief Floyd Mitchell joins in mid-May.
Biden’s Plan to Jumpstart Offshore Wind
date: 2024-04-24, from: Heatmap News
Current conditions: A Saharan dust storm turned skies red in Greece • More heavy rain is expected in China’s flooded Guangdong province • Red Flag fire weather warnings are in place across much of New Mexico.
THE TOP FIVE
- Key takeaways from Tesla’s quarterly earnings report
Tesla reported first quarter earnings yesterday. The electric car company’s profits fell 55%, and revenue fell 9%. But shares rose more than 10% in after-hours trading following the shareholder update and earnings call. Here are a few things we learned from the report:
- CEO Elon Musk said Tesla “should be thought of as an AI/robotics company,” and that “if you value Tesla as an auto company, that’s the wrong framework.”
- Plans for a sub-$30,000 EV haven’t been entirely scrapped, as previously reported. The company said it will “accelerate” the launch of new and more affordable models, but indicated “that any new, cheaper vehicle would not necessarily be entirely new nor unlock massive new savings through an all-new production process,” wrote Heatmap’s Matthew Zeitlin. The robotaxi, however, will rely on a new platform.
- Tesla’s energy business is growing faster than its car business. The company deployed just over 4 gigawatts of energy storage in the first quarter of the year, and its energy revenue was up 7% from a year ago. Profits from the business more than doubled.
- Musk still wants to sell a “general purpose, bi-pedal, humanoid robot,” and said the Optimus robot would be in “limited production” in a factory doing “useful tasks” by the end of this year.
- Biden administration plans to hold up to a dozen offshore wind
auctions by 2028
The Interior Department today announced that it will hold up to 12 offshore wind auctions through 2028, with four of those auctions happening by the end of 2024. President Biden has a goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030, but the industry has been blown off course thanks to inflation and disrupted supply chains. The Interior Department has held four offshore wind auctions so far during Biden’s presidency. The new schedule is an attempt to “jump-start the fledgling offshore wind sector” by expanding development potential, reported Bloomberg. “Our offshore wind leasing schedule will provide predictability to help developers and communities plan ahead and will provide the confidence needed to continue building on the tremendous offshore wind supply chain and manufacturing investments that we’ve already seen,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.
3. Poll: Few climate-concerned voters know about Biden’s climate policies
In the last month alone, $37 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act has gone toward climate projects. That amount “exceeds what the recent foreign aid bill will give to Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian aid in Gaza, combined,” reported Heatmap’s Robinson Meyer. As the election approaches, the Biden administration is spending funds from the IRA much faster than it was last year. But it seems President Biden’s climate investments and emission-slashing initiatives aren’t getting through to Americans. A CBS News/YouGov poll out this week found that even the Americans who are most concerned about climate change are unlikely to be aware of the administration’s efforts to combat it. About 45% of respondents said climate change is a very important issue, but just 10% of those said they had heard or read “a lot” about Biden’s climate policies. And 42% said the administration hadn’t done enough on the issue.
More than half of respondents said the outcome of the November election would have no effect on climate change. A recent analysis from Carbon Brief found that a second Trump presidency would likely cause the U.S. to miss its 2030 climate pledges, could lead to an additional 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, and result in more than $900 billion in damages. “A second Trump term that successfully dismantles Biden’s climate legacy would likely end any global hopes of keeping global warming below 1.5 [degrees Celsius],” the report said.
- Global plastic treaty talks start in Canada
Negotiations on a global plastics treaty kicked off yesterday in Ottawa, Canada. The UN-led session is the second-to-last meeting before the treaty on reducing plastic pollution has to be finalized later this year, so the stakes are high, as are tensions between oil-producing nations and other countries that want to see plastic production dramatically reduced. The negotiations run through April 29.
- Mercedes shows off new electric G-Class SUV
Mercedes unveiled the new all-electric version of its luxury G-Class offroader yesterday. The G-Class is “in many ways, Mercedes’ most prestigious car,” said Tim Evans at TechCrunch, so making an electric version is “the biggest test yet for the company’s recently scaled back electrification plans.”
Mercedes
The Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ technology (critics hate the name, by the way) can do a tank turn, and has one motor for each wheel, offering serious control for offroading. And it has a fake engine noise, the “G-Roar.” It’s also just a beautiful vehicle that seems to stay true to its design roots. The range, at about 293 miles, is relatively low but the sticker price, at about $150,000, is very high. It’ll be on sale in the U.S. in the second half of 2024. Here are some early reactions:
- “The electric G-Class sounds like an impressive package, enough to woo any true fan of performance away from the models with internal combustion.” –Tim Stevens at TechCrunch.
- “Is it a car the world needs? Probably not. But that’s never stopped the G – in any of its army or AMG forms – being one of the enduring off-road icons.” –Ollie Kew at Top Gear.
- “This is a car that has been defined in many ways by excess, with the gas version getting just 14 miles per gallon. And yet here it is, in electric trim, with a huge battery (but not out of line with other huge EVs), beating the gas version’s performance both on- and off-road.” –Jameson Dow at Electrek.
THE KICKER
America’s first commercial big-rig hydrogen fuel station opened this week in Oakland, California.
https://heatmap.news/biden-offshore-wind-auctions
Inside a Modern Murder-for-Hire in NYC
date: 2024-04-24, from: 404 Media Group
Bitcoin, Telegram, and Instagram. All were involved in a recent murder-for-hire and extortion plot in New York City.
https://www.404media.co/inside-a-modern-murder-for-hire-in-nyc/
Deadly Bay Area streets spark officials to make traffic safety improvements
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
Major planning efforts are happening throughout the Bay Area to make it easier for people to get around, whether it’s reconnecting communities severed by freeways or highways, or figuring out ways to make streets safer to cross and transit more easily accessible.
‘Loose Ends’ provides closure one project at a time
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
When a person dies, it often falls to their children, loved ones, lawyers or even friends to sort through the things they’ve left behind. Sometimes, those things are unfinished projects or hobbies, that’s where the group Loose Ends comes in. Nina Vishneva has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.
https://www.voanews.com/a/loose-ends-provides-closure-one-project-at-a-time/7583029.html
Podcast: The Humane Ai Pin Is a Disaster
date: 2024-04-24, from: 404 Media Group
Why we can, we must, dunk on the Humane Ai Pin; how Instagram is running ads for nudify apps; and a tool that pushes AI-generated product placements into Reddit threads.
https://www.404media.co/404-media-podcast-the-humane-ai-pin-is-a-disaster/
Alaska Appealing Judge’s Decision to Ban Jet-Skis On Kachemak Bay
date: 2024-04-24, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Fish and Game repealed the ban a few years ago, while residents are now fighting to reinstate it.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717176/alaska-jet-ski-ban/
How I tricked iOS into giving me EU DMA features
date: 2024-04-24, from: OS News
In iOS 17.4, Apple introduced a new system called eligibilityd. This works with countryd (which you might have heard about when it first appeared in iOS 16.2) and the Apple ID system to decide where you physically are. The idea is that multiple sources need to agree on where you are, before giving you access to features such as those mandated by the Digital Markets Act. ↫ Adam Demasi The way Adam Demasi managed to convince Apple his very much Australian iPhone in Australia was, in fact, a European Union iPhone in the European Union was by making sure not a single wireless signal managed to escape the device. He had to disable location services, insert an Italian SIM, set up a pfSense Wi-Fi router using the regulatory country of Italy, and go into his basement where there’s no mobile signal. Between all these steps, the phone was reset multiple times. And then, and only then, did the iPhone think it was in the European Union, with all the benefits that entails. Demasi has no idea which of these steps are actually needed, but the process of figuring this all out is ongoing, and more information is sure to be discovered as smart people sink their teeth into the process by which Apple determines where an iPhone is from.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139416/how-i-tricked-ios-into-giving-me-eu-dma-features/
@IIIF Mastodon feed (date: 2024-04-24, from: IIIF Mastodon feed)
We're delighted to announce that @udcmrk will be the Consortium's next Managing Director. Martin brings over 20 years of senior management skills from his positions at the Smithsonian Institution and the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
In his role at IIIF-C, Martin will lead the organization in supporting IIIF’s advances and continue to broaden its international adoption. Read more about Martin and the search process on the the #IIIF website: https://iiif.io/news/2024/04/23/new-md/
https://glammr.us/@IIIF/112326263388556054
Polestar 4 officially goes on sale in the US alongside its first-ever phone in China
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
EV developer Polestar is touting two announcements today. It has begun sales of its latest EV, the Polestar 4, in the US and officially crossed over into a new segment of technology, launching its flagship smartphone to support its vehicle customers. The phone itself is a little pricey, but Polestar is including it for certain EV customers.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/polestar-launches-first-phone-free-to-customers-who-order-polestar-4/
The Volvo EX30 Is Already A Sales Hit
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
The Swedish-based automaker also delivered one million electrified vehicles globally through March 2024.
https://insideevs.com/news/717271/volvo-ex30-global-deliveries-q1-2024/
Next up for Chris Paul’s big offseason: ‘AAU dad’ life before contract decisions
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
More uncertainty is ahead for Chris Paul. But first, he’ll start his “big offseason” by spending time with his family.
Editorial: San Ramon Valley voters should reject school tax proposals
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
Special May 7 election for Measures E and F will depress turnout while deceitful ballot language hides true impact
Mixed-use downtown San Jose housing tower may sprout on retail site
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
A highrise being eyed in downtown San Jose could add several hundred residences to the city’s urban core.
Euro cloud group blasts Broadcom over VMware licensing maneuvers
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
CISPE says concessions ‘solve nothing’
Updated Euro cloud trade body CISPE has hit back at concessions offered by Broadcom over VMware licensing, saying these do not address key issues that led it to lobby the European Commission into investigating.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/cispe_broadcom_vmware/
Editorial: Voters in Los Gatos-Saratoga high school district should reject parcel tax hike
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
Special May 7 election for Measure A will depress turnout while deceptive ballot language hides impact.
Watch This Guy Build The World’s First Screw Bike With Wild 3D-Printed Wheels
date: 2024-04-24, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Just about the only thing off-the-shelf about this build is some of the tools he uses.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717184/james-bruton-screw-bike-mecanum/
Man arrested on five counts of attempted murder in Monterey County
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
When police arrived they found evidence of a shooting and located the victim’s car. It was occupied by five people, none of whom were injured.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/24/man-arrested-on-five-counts-of-attempted-murder-in-king-city/
NASA Glenn Interactive Exhibit Earns Gold
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
The Ohio Museums Association (OMA) presented NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland with two OMA 2023 Visual Communications Awards during its annual meeting in Sandusky, Ohio, on April 14. NASA Glenn and contractor Impact Inc. received the Gold Award (Level 2) and the Best in Show Award for the updated “Science in Space: Interactive International Space […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/glenn/nasa-glenn-interactive-exhibit-earns-gold/
NASA Participates in NCAA Women’s Championship Game
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
Just before tipoff at the live national broadcast of the NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship Game on April 7, 31 women scientists, engineers, and leaders from NASA stood at center court inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland to hold a large American flag during the opening ceremony. The crowd cheered as astronaut Jessica […]
NASA Glenn Teams Up with Cleveland Monsters
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
NASA’s Glenn Research Center joined the Cleveland Monsters to celebrate their total solar eclipse-themed game against the Rochester Americans at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on March 30. NASA Glenn staff were on hand to discuss the total solar eclipse and NASA’s presence at Great Lakes Science Center’s Total Eclipse Fest 2024, April 6-8. […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/glenn/nasa-glenn-teams-up-with-cleveland-monsters/
NASA Glenn Joins Big Hoopla STEM Challenge
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland joined in the adventure of the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge held at the Dayton Convention Center on March 17. The free family event for kids (K-8) tied together the excitement of college basketball and the power of STEM education. NASA Glenn Deputy Center Director Dawn Schaible participated in the […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/glenn/nasa-glenn-joins-big-hoopla-stem-challenge/
NASA Mentors, Students Rock FIRST Buckeye Regional
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland supported the 25th annual FIRST Robotics Buckeye Regional Competition, March 20 to 23, at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center. Fifty-five teams of high school students competed in the robotics competition, which aims to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators by engaging them in mentor-based […]
https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-mentors-students-rock-first-buckeye-regional/
Keeway Acquires Italian Brand Morbidelli But What Does This Mean For The Industry?
date: 2024-04-24, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Keeway’s parent company QJ Motor seems to be on a quest for world domination.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717107/keeway-mbp-acquires-morbidelli-brand/
Cleveland School Students Learn About STEM Careers
date: 2024-04-24, from: NASA breaking news
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland opened its doors to Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students to explore various Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. NASA Glenn’s Office of STEM Engagement invited high school students onsite to explore center facilities and talk to NASA experts during NASA Career Exploration Day. Students learned about NASA […]
Future Electric Mercedes Cars Will Be Named ‘With EQ Technology’
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
Say goodbye, eventually, to the “EQE” and “EQS” naming scheme. Mercedes is sticking with the iconic names you know and love for future EVs.
https://insideevs.com/news/717212/mercedes-eq-naming-electric/
Second man sentenced in Santa Cruz County jailhouse murder
date: 2024-04-24, from: San Jose Mercury News
A man convicted of gang-related first-degree murder last month was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/24/second-man-sentenced-in-jailhouse-murder/
European Parliament votes to screw repair rights in consumer toolkits
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Directive places requirements on gizmo vendors, but still needs formal approval
The European Parliament has adopted the right-to-repair directive with 584 votes in favor and three against, making repairing goods more accessible and cost-effective.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/europe_repair_rights_directive/
UC Pledged To Let Undocumented Students Get Jobs, Then Changed Course. What Happened, And What’s Next
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The LAist
The University of California has refused to extend employment benefits to undocumented students, despite promises to do so.
Volkswagen ID. Code Concept Has A GTI Robot Vacuum Cleaner That Picks Up Your Mess
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
VW’s latest show car gives us a glimpse into the future of its electric SUVs, AI-generated co-pilot included.
https://insideevs.com/news/716999/volkswagen-id-code-concept-suv-beijing-china/
Royal Enfield’s Rental Tours Let You Travel The World On Two Wheels
date: 2024-04-24, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
The program covers over 60 destinations in 25 countries.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717038/royal-enfield-rental-tours/
Civil War (the movie) is a blunt object.
date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Karpf’s blog
And the bluntness is the point.
https://davekarpf.substack.com/p/civil-war-the-movie-is-a-blunt-object
Millions of Americans could get a pay bump
date: 2024-04-24, from: Marketplace Morning Report
The Joe Biden administration has announced a pair of new measures to strengthen worker protections. It’s widening eligibility for overtime, bringing in millions of more employees, and is looking to largely ban on noncompete agreements, which bar workers from joining competing companies. We’ll hear more. We’ll also hear more about what all is included in the $95 billion foreign aid package and how internet providers have been lobbying against lower broadband prices.
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Inside Dems' thinking on saving Mike Johnson from an ouster vote.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/24/democrats-mike-johnson-ouster-vote-00153802
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
I would have hired Doug Engelbart
http://scripting.com/2015/04/24/iWouldHaveHiredDougEngelbart.html
Factorial Energy and LG Chem sign MOU to accelerate solid-state battery development
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Two next-generation battery material and cell manufacturers are cooperating to expedite solid-state battery development. LG Chem and Factorial Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, hoping to eventually lead the solid-state battery segment with a strategic partnership.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/24/factorial-energy-lg-chem-sign-mou-solid-state-battery-development/
Law prof predicts generative AI will die at the hands of watchdogs
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Big tech backlash and animus against the machines will invite stifling red tape
Video Generative AI is destined to drown in a tsunami of regulation, argues Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/generative_ai_death/
A load of cobblers
date: 2024-04-24, from: Status-Q blog
The Dutch, I gather, don’t have a specific word for ‘pothole’ because, well, they don’t need one. Having just returned from a two-week campervan tour there, I don’t think I saw a single one. I knew I was back in Blighty yesterday evening, though, when I had to swerve to avoid them before I even Continue Reading
https://statusq.org/archives/2024/04/24/12023/
Blinken’s thorny China trip
date: 2024-04-24, from: Marketplace Morning Report
From the BBC World Service: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in China with a long list of global issues on his agenda: There’s conflict in the Middle East, America’s support for Taiwan and the way China supplies crucial technology to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. Also: key issues for women voting in India’s general election and southern Spain’s struggle with the highest unemployment rate in Europe.
https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-morning-report/blinkens-thorny-china-trip
Strong electric car sales expected for 2024, but charging grid needs work
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
International Energy Agency points out obvious: Infrastructure needs to meet demand
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is reminding governments to match the continued rapid growth of electric car sales with infrastructure improvements.…
The opposite of pudding?
date: 2024-04-24, from: Status-Q blog
This cafe in Zutphen, Netherlands, is of my way of thinking…
https://statusq.org/archives/2024/04/24/12020/
BETA hits its latest eVTOL milestone, transitioning mid-air with a pilot onboard [Video]
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies has shared video footage of its ALIA eVTOL transitioning from vertical takeoff to forward propulsion and back in its latest test video. This is a key milestone as the company seeks certification for the aircraft ahead of several use cases.
The problem with new URL(), and how URL.parse() fixes that
date: 2024-04-24, from: Kilian Valkhof’s blog
As someone building a browser I need to parse a lot of URLs. Partially to validate them, but also to normalize them or get specific parts out of the URL. The URL API in browsers lets you do that, but it’s ergonomics aren’t ideal. The problem with new URL() The “new” in front of new […]
The post The problem with new URL(), and how URL.parse() fixes that first appeared on Kilian Valkhof.
https://kilianvalkhof.com/2024/javascript/the-problem-with-new-url-and-how-url-parse-fixes-that/
Rapidus US chief says AI chip crunch, supply chain paranoia make for an ideal growth climate
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Japanese foundry upstart aims to bolster domestic production while catering to growing demand for custom accelerators
Interview The foundry space is arguably the most complex and competitive it has been in decades as foundry upstarts in the US and Japan look to challenge heavyweights Samsung and TSMC for a piece of the action.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/rapidus_foundry_strategy/
How Jigar Shah Thinks About Risk
date: 2024-04-24, from: Heatmap News
Jigar Shah might have more control over America’s new wave of industrial policy — not to mention its climate policy — than anyone not named Joe Biden. And he’s not even a Cabinet-level official. As director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, which is akin to its in-house bank, Shah oversees how roughly $400 billion in lending authority will be spent. That money will help finance new EV factories, geothermal wells, carbon capture sites, and more.
On this week’s episode, Rob sits down with Shah to discuss the philosophy that he brings to his role. When financing new projects — many of which are the first of their kind — how does he think about cash flow, about technological innovation, about risk? Robinson Meyer is executive editor of Heatmap News; Jesse Jenkins, an energy systems engineering professor at Princeton, is off this week.
Subscribe to “Shift Key” and find this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also add the show’s RSS feed to your podcast app to follow us directly.
Here is an excerpt from our conversation:
Robinson Meyer: I think one thing you’ve said often is that we have — and you alluded to at the beginning of the conversation — is that we haven’t built manufacturing in this country, basically, for 40 years. I think one note we’ve seen both from the president and from the partisan laws passed by Congress and the president — but also, frankly, from a more bipartisan set of lawmakers — is that there’s a lot of eagerness for that to change. So from your point of view as someone kind of in the weeds every day, what needs to change for the U.S. to build manufacturing and heavy industry domestically again?
Jigar Shah: Well, let’s start by saying that I think that the BIL and IRA that’s passed has been a huge success story, right? We’ve gotten 500 announcements of new factories in the United States. And so, these are communities like the one that I grew up in, that had the seventh largest steel mill in the country that shut down while I was there. And all of the people who went to high school there expected to have a job there, and they don’t. Right? These are folks who are pretty pissed off about the fact that their lot in life, really, was destined to not have family-sustaining jobs for 40 years, right?
And so now we’re giving people hope again that, for folks who have high school educations, that they can actually support their families and do these things, right? So in that perspective, we’re winning, right?
But on the other side, we still have a lot more work to do, right? So when you think about the underlying conventional wisdom, the conventional wisdom is that you’re going to start a factory, China’s going to dump product in the United States and going to put you out of business, right? And so the local bank is saying, prove to me that China’s not going to dump product and put you out of business. Those old habits die hard, right?
Now, the president has put together all sorts of belts and suspenders, but I don’t think that’s clear. I’ll give you an example. So in the EV supply chain — we have an extraordinary amount of lithium in this country. We made the announcements at Thacker Pass and Rhyolite Ridge, as well as recycling for Li-Cycle and Redwood. But we’ve got additional abilities to get lithium over in Arkansas and Salton Sea in California.
And a lot of folks are saying, lithium prices are down 70% from their highs, right? So therefore there’s no way you can make it work right now. Lithium was $5,000 a unit in 2020. Today it’s $20,000 a unit. It was as high as $80,000 — $20,000 is still 4x what it was in 2020. And so there’s a way to make it profitable, but we also have the 30D program where a lot of automakers get incentives to buy locally for domestic content.
And so I feel like there’s just so much in the IRA, that the belts and suspenders approach that the administration took is not something that most people understand. And as a result, a lot of dollars are not moving from the commercial markets. We’ve got to step in and move them.
This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by…
KORE Power provides the commercial, industrial, and utility markets with functional solutions that advance the clean energy transition worldwide. KORE Power’s technology and manufacturing capabilities provide direct access to next generation battery cells, energy storage systems that scale to grid+, EV power & infrastructure, and intuitive asset management to unlock energy strategies across a myriad of applications. Explore more at korepower.com.
Watershed’s climate data engine helps companies measure and reduce their emissions, turning the data they already have into an audit-ready carbon footprint backed by the latest climate science. Get the sustainability data you need in weeks, not months. Learn more at watershed.com.
Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow.
https://heatmap.news/podcast/shift-key-episode-13-jigar-shah
Learning from our hybrid training programme for youth and community organisations
date: 2024-04-24, from: Raspberry Pi (.org)
At the Raspberry Pi Foundation, we aim to democratise access to digital skills and technologies. One of the ways we do this is via partnerships with youth and community organisations that deliver frontline services to young people experiencing educational disadvantage. In 2023 we delivered a hybrid training programme to 14 youth organisations in the UK…
The post Learning from our hybrid training programme for youth and community organisations appeared first on Raspberry Pi Foundation.
Live updates: Supreme Court considers clash between state abortion ban and federal law
date: 2024-04-24, from: Associated Press, US News
In Idaho, a woman can only get an abortion when her life — not her health — is at risk. The Justice Department says that conflicts with a federal law.
https://apnews.com/live/supreme-court-abortion-idaho
The Savvy Senior | Healthy Travel Tips for Older Travelers
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you offer retirees with health issues who are planning some trips? We’ve been looking forward to traveling again after staying home the past few years, but my husband has a heart condition and some back problems that worry me. — Concerned Wife Dear Concerned, A […]
The post The Savvy Senior | Healthy Travel Tips for Older Travelers appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/the-savvy-senior-healthy-travel-tips-for-older-travelers/
OpenBSD as a daily driver
date: 2024-04-24, from: OS News
I always like it when I can link to an article written by an OSNews, and this time it’s even relevant to me as I’m exploring OpenBSD myself. OSNews reader and silver Patreon supporter Morgan has written an article about using OpenBSD as a daily driver. OpenBSD is forever tied in first place with Void Linux as my favorite desktop OS. This is particularly funny because OpenBSD isn’t “just a desktop OS”; in its purest form, the base installation without any installed packages, it makes for an excellent Ethernet router, firewall, or web server. It even ships with its own fork of X11 called Xenocara, along with fvwm2 and its own calm window manager, so there’s a rudimentary desktop OS in there too. With that said, in 2024 there is no such thing as a fully functioning desktop computer or workstation without at least a web browser of some kind, and if you’re adding packages you may as well build a full desktop system to suit your needs. So how do you go from the amazing but unfortunately limited base install to a “daily driver” workstation operating system? There are many ways to do this, and I will present a couple of paths I take depending on the hardware and use case involved. Before I do that, a bit of prep is necessary to get OpenBSD into more of a desktop OS mode. ↫ Morgan I’ll be using this guide over the coming days to make sure I end up with something usable. I still haven’t decided on what desktop environment I want to go for – I’m not interested in running GNOME or KDE, so Xfce is probably the most likely option. I’d also love to try out LXQt, but it seems the version OpenBSD has in its repositories is very, very outdated (1.0.0 from years ago, when 2.0.0 was just released). There’s a small chance I might suck it up and use one of those “build your own desktop environment” options, but I have no idea which one I should go for.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139413/openbsd-as-a-daily-driver/
Graph databases speaking the same language after ISO gives GQL the nod
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Standards body adoption could help ease portability between vendors
GQL, the query language for graph databases, has been recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), offering users more portability of queries and skills between graph database systems.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/gql_iso_recognition/
Re: Growth is a mind cancer
date: 2024-04-24, from: Manu - I write blog
<p>Yesterday I stumbled on an interesting article by <a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at">Ed Zitron</a> titled <em>"<a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-men-who-killed-google/">The Man Who Killed Google Search</a>"</em> that is closely related to my recent post about the growth mentality.</p>Raghavan is a hall-of-fame rot economist, and one of the many managerial types that have caused immeasurable damage to the Internet in the name of growth and “shareholder value.” And I believe these uber-managers - these ultra-pencil-pushers and growth-hounds - are the forces destroying tech’s ability to innovate.
If you’re interested in the subject and want to get some insights into how the pursuit of growth can be bad, give it a read.
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Gary Horton | We Watch History Being Written — IF We Watch
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
A lot of folks have become so disillusioned with the current state of world, national and political affairs they’ve stopped following the news. As in, “shut it out” of their lives. But DON’T! You’ll miss out on a great show! Very serious things are afoot, and you and I are living in times certain to […]
The post Gary Horton | We Watch History Being Written — IF We Watch appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/gary-horton-we-watch-history-being-written-if-we-watch/
Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel | It’s Crunch Time for the HIKE Act
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
Rep. Mike Garcia’s legislation, the “Helping Invest in Key Environments (HIKE) Act, or H.R. 2887, will help protect and restore some of our most treasured natural resources and historic sites in the Santa Clarita Valley by expanding the boundaries of Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, where the National Park Service has a 45-year track record […]
The post Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel | It’s Crunch Time for the HIKE Act appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/dianne-erskine-hellrigel-its-crunch-time-for-the-hike-act/
Thomas Oatway | Slow Walking the Trump Appeal?
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
Mr. Stephen Maseda’s April 16 letter was critical of my opinion that the Supreme Court has intentionally delayed action on an issue affecting the various federal indictments of Donald Trump. He suggested that it is quite fine to put the hearing on his presidential immunity claim at the end of the court docket, presumably because […]
The post Thomas Oatway | Slow Walking the Trump Appeal? appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/thomas-oatway-slow-walking-the-trump-appeal/
Office Hours: How are you talking with your pro-Trump or anti-Biden family members about the upcoming election?
date: 2024-04-24, from: Robert Reich on Substack
Friends, Many of you say that the worst aspect of the fraught political time we’re going through as the 2024 election looms is what it’s doing to your relationships with members of your family — with your parents, your children, your in-laws, and your siblings.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/office-hours-how-are-you-talking
USG inaugurates 144th senate class, officers
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The Undergraduate Student Government used 77% of its allocated budget in 2023-24.
The post USG inaugurates 144th senate class, officers appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/usg-inaugurates-144th-senate-class-officers/
Classifieds – April 24, 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The Daily Trojan features Classified advertising in each day’s edition. Here you can read, search, and even print out each day’s edition of the Classifieds.
The post Classifieds – April 24, 2024 appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/classifieds-april-24-2024/
If Britain is so bothered by China, why do these .gov.uk sites use Chinese ad brokers?
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
One wonders why are there adverts on public-sector portals at all
Exclusive At least 18 public-sector websites in the UK and US send visitor data in some form to various web advertising brokers – including an ad-tech biz in China involved in past privacy controversies, a security firm claims.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/ads_on_gov_uk_websites/
New memory variants for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module family
date: 2024-04-24, from: Raspberry Pi News (.com)
Our Compute Module 4S industrial boards are now available in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB SDRAM variants.
The post New memory variants for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module family appeared first on Raspberry Pi.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/new-memory-variants-for-the-raspberry-pi-compute-module-family/
Today in SCV History (April 24)
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
1962 – SCV residents vote to connect to State Water Project, creating Castaic Lake Water Agency (now part of SCV Water). [story
https://scvnews.com/today-in-scv-history-april-24/
All hail the queen: Brooke Bryant
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Brooke Bryant skates a new path for California girls.
The post All hail the queen: Brooke Bryant appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/all-hail-the-queen-brooke-bryant/
Writers and readers come together at Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The festival took place over two days and included author panels, book signings, vendors, performances, food and more.
The post Writers and readers come together at Los Angeles Times Festival of Books appeared first on Daily Trojan.
Delta Sigma Theta funds endowment for Black women
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The scholarship is a “first of its kind” venture to help Black women pay for school.
The post Delta Sigma Theta funds endowment for Black women appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/delta-sigma-theta-funds-endowment-for-black-women/
Mindfulness classes root their curriculums in nature
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Two mindfulness courses focus on reducing anxiety by connecting with nature.
The post Mindfulness classes root their curriculums in nature appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/mindfulness-classes-root-their-curriculums-in-nature/
The USC journey beyond borders
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Entering college as an undocumented student can be confusing, and for that reason, this guide aims to help you.
The post The USC journey beyond borders appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/the-usc-journey-beyond-borders/
Predictions heading into the NFL draft
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Senior sports staff makes predictions for Trojans and other prospects.
The post Predictions heading into the NFL draft appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/predictions-heading-into-the-nfl-draft/
A survival guide for hopeless romantics
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Here’s how to revive your trust in love and the USC college relationship culture.
The post A survival guide for hopeless romantics appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/a-survival-guide-for-hopeless-romantics/
A murder — or nine — take place at McClintock Theatre in ‘Assassins’
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Second-year SDA students staged “the most controversial musical ever written.”
The post A murder — or nine — take place at McClintock Theatre in ‘Assassins’ appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/a-murder-or-nine-take-place-at-mcclintock-theatre-in-assassins/
Six billion docker pulls
date: 2024-04-24, from: Daniel Stenberg Blog
We provide an official curl container. Why would you use curl in a container? We actually don’t ask, we just provide the image, but I can think of a few reasons… Six billion as of now The official curl docker repository now (as of 06:43 UTC April 24, 2024) reports that the curl container has … Continue reading Six billion docker pulls
https://daniel.haxx.se/blog/2024/04/24/six-billion-docker-pulls/
Japanese and Singaporean devs battle over gamified crowdsourced telco maintenance app
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
You read that right – it’s a bit like Pokémon Go, but for telephone poles
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) – which manages infrastructure including the Fukushima nuclear power plant – is reportedly involved in an IP dispute over an app that gamifies the crowdsourced identification of faulty power poles.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/japan_telco_app_ip/
Griffith Park Earth Day celebration
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
The Friends of Griffith Park organized an Earth Day celebration on Saturday where the Los Angeles community assisted in planting native species and removing invasive plants. The Friends of Griffith…
https://sundial.csun.edu/181045/multimedia/watch/griffith-park-earth-day-celebration/
New Crisis Stabilization Unit Approved by Santa Barbara County Supervisors
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The eight-bed unit will open in mid-May and include services to county inmates.
The post New Crisis Stabilization Unit Approved by Santa Barbara County Supervisors appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
April 23, 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
In the past two days, the Biden-Harris administration has announced a wide range of new rules to protect ordinary Americans. Yesterday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the administration has finalized two new rules affecting patients in nursing homes and receiving home care, as well as the workers who care for them. The first sets minimum staffing requirements for facilities funded by Medicare and Medicaid, and the second concerns how home healthcare companies account for Medicaid funding.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-23-2024
Report of the Independent Task Force on the Application of National Security Memorandum-20 to Israel
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
The Independent Task Force on the Application of National Security Memorandum-20 to Israel submitted this report on April 18, 2024.
China’s mega-telcos are spending billions on AI servers
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
China Mobile alone wants almost 8,000 machines
Giant Chinese telco China Mobile, which boasts over a billion customers, wants to purchase nearly 8,000 AI servers.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/china_telcos_buying_ai_servers/
Angelenos clean up the LA River
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
Leading up to Earth Day, the LA Waterkeeper hosted their 4th Annual Community Clean-Up event over the weekend. Over 300 people came out to Atwater Village to clean the surrounding…
https://sundial.csun.edu/181042/multimedia/watch/angelenos-clean-up-the-la-river/
Drama plus celebrities equals… let’s find out!
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
On this episode of Rhythm and News, hosts Amrita Sundaresan and Nicole Chan talk about some piping hot tea, specifically the celebrity kind. What are the most culturally significant moments between celebrities and how do their fan bases respond? Our hosts dive into all of the drama famous people bring to the public eye in this week’s episode. You certainly won’t want to miss it.
This episode was written and hosted by Amrita Sundaresan and Nicole Chan; edited by Alison Mitchell; produced by Auburn D’Artell and Jonathan Park. “Rhythm and News” is one of four shows on the Daily Trojan podcast network. You can find more episodes anywhere you listen to podcasts, as well as our website, dailytrojan.com
The post Drama plus celebrities equals… let’s find out! appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/23/drama-plus-celebrities-equals-lets-find-out/
Senate passes law forcing ByteDance to sell off TikTok – or face a US ban
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Somewhere in Beijing, someone’s screaming: Mother, PFACAA!
Updated The US Senate has passed a bill that compels TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance to offload the app to a US-approved buyer or face a ban. President Biden has indicated he will sign it into law.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/us_senate_passes_tiktok_sale_act/
Two transported following two-car collision on Golden Valley Road
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
Two people were transported following a two-car collision that occurred near the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Centre Pointe Parkway on Tuesday evening, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “We got on scene at 7:46 p.m.,” said Supervisor Travis White, adding that authorities arrived on the scene at 7:41 p.m. “Everybody cleared […]
The post Two transported following two-car collision on Golden Valley Road appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/two-transported-following-two-car-collision-on-golden-valley-road/
Biden to sign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-to-sign-aid-package-for-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan-/7582221.html
US Senate passes bill to force TikTok divestment or ban
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted late Tuesday to send legislation to President Joe Biden that would require Chinese owner ByteDance to divest the popular short video app’s U.S. assets within about nine months or face a
Ban.
The measure, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday, has been driven by concerns that China could access Americans’ data or surveil them with the app and Biden has said he will sign it into law.
“For years we’ve allowed the Chinese Communist party to control one of the most popular apps in America that was dangerously shortsighted,” said Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee. “A new law is going to require its Chinese owner to sell the app. This is a good move for America.”
TikTok, which says it has not shared and would not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government, has argued the law amounts to a ban that would violate the U.S. free speech rights of its users.
The company did not immediately comment but over the weekend, it told its employees that it would quickly go to court to try to block the legislation.
“We’ll continue to fight, as this legislation is a clear violation of the First Amendment rights of the 170 million Americans on TikTok… This is the beginning, not the end of this long process,” TikTok told employees on Saturday in an email seen by Reuters.
The Senate voted 79 to 18 in favor of the bill.
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-senate-passes-bill-to-force-tiktok-divestment-or-ban/7582701.html
Hoefflin Foundation hosts ‘Walk for Children’s Cancer’
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
Community teams and local leaders gathered at Central Park for The Michael Hoefflin Foundation’s annual “Walk 4 MHF” Walk for Children’s Cancer on Saturday. The foundation was established in 1995 in honor of Michael Hoefflin, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 6 in 1992. According to the […]
The post <strong>Hoefflin Foundation hosts ‘Walk for Children’s Cancer’</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/hoefflin-foundation-hosts-walk-for-childrens-cancer/
Mercedes-Benz G580 With EQ Technology: A Quad-Motor Electric Off-Roader With Old School Vibes
date: 2024-04-24, from: Inside EVs News
On the surface, there are very few surprises about the electric G580. It’s under the skin that matters.
https://insideevs.com/news/717037/2025-mercedes-g-wagen-electric/
Mercedes unveils 2025 electric G-Class, with 4 motors and tank turns
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Mercedes unveiled its 2025 electric G-Class tonight – which it’s calling the “G580 with EQ technology” – and we’re here in Beverly Hills at the reveal with all the details.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/23/mercedes-unveils-2025-electric-g-class-with-4-motors-and-tank-turns/
US government reportedly ponders crimping China’s use of RISC-V
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Permissive licenses may be about to collide with geopolitics
The United States Department of Commerce is reportedly considering lawmakers’ calls to make it harder for China to use the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA).…
23 Apr 2024
date: 2024-04-24, from: Miguel de Icaza’s blog
Embeddable Game Engine
Many years ago, when working at Xamarin, where
we were building cross-platform libraries for mobile developers, we
wanted to offer both 2D and 3D gaming capabilities for our users in the
form of adding 2D or 3D content to their mobile applications.
For 2D, we contributed and developed assorted Cocos2D-inspired libraries.
For 3D, the situation was more complex. We funded a few over the years, and we contributed to others over the years, but nothing panned out (the history of this is worth a dedicated post).
Around 2013, we looked around, and there were two contenders at the time, one was an embeddable engine with many cute features but not great UI support called Urho, and the other one was a Godot, which had a great IDE, but did not support being embedded.
I reached out to Juan at the time to discuss whether Godot could be turned into such engine. While I tend to take copious notes of all my meetings, those notes sadly were gone as part of the Microsoft acquisition, but from what I can remember Juan told me, "Godot is not what you are looking for" in two dimensions, there were no immediate plans to turn it into an embeddable library, and it was not as advanced as Urho, so he recommended that I go with Urho.
We invested heavily in binding Urho and created UrhoSharp that would go into becoming a great 3D library for our C# users and worked not only on every desktop and mobile platform, but we did a ton of work to make it great for AR and VR headsets. Sadly, Microsoft’s management left UrhoSharp to die.
Then, the maintainer of Urho stepped down, and Godot became one of the most popular open-source projects in the world.
Last year, @Faolan-Rad contributed a patch to Godot to turn it into a library that could be embedded into applications. I used this library to build SwiftGodotKit and have been very happy with it ever since - allowing people to embed Godot content into their application.
However, the patch had severe limitations; it could only ever run one Godot game as an embedded system and could not do much more. The folks at Smirk Software wanted to take this further. They wanted to host independent Godot scenes in their app and have more control over those so they could sprinkle Godot content at their heart’s content on their mobile app (demo)
They funded some initial work to do this and hired Gergely Kis’s company to do this work.
Gergely demoed this work at GodotCon last year. I came back very excited from GodotCon and I decided to turn my prototype Godot on iPad into a complete product.
One of the features that I needed was the ability to embed chunks of Godot in discrete components in my iPad UI, so we worked with Gergely to productize and polish this patch for general consumption.
Now, there is a
complete patch
under review to allow people to embed arbitrary Godot scenes into
their apps. For SwiftUI users, this means that you can embed a Godot
scene into a View and display and control it at will.
Hopefully, the team will accept this change into Godot, and once this is done, I will update SwiftGodotKit to get these new capabilities to Swift users (bindings for other platforms and languages are left as an exercise to the reader).
It only took a decade after talking to Juan, but I am back firmly in Godot land.
https://tirania.org/blog/archive/2024/Apr-23.html
Landfill facing hundreds of claims
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
A San Diego law firm recently joined the frenzy of legal action against Chiquita Canyon Landfill, with L.A. County Superior Court records indicating more than 250 claims have been filed over concerns about operations at the landfill. For the past year, the facility has drawn more than 10,000 complaints over the smells and toxic concerns […]
The post Landfill facing hundreds of claims appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/landfill-facing-hundreds-of-claims/
Daily EV Recap: Tesla Self-Driving Homicide
date: 2024-04-24, from: Electrek Feed
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from Electrek. Quick Charge is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and…
https://electrek.co/2024/04/23/daily-ev-recap-tesla-self-driving-homicide/
Kathryn Barger | Statement in Support of $45.4B County Budget
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement in support of the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer’s presentation of a $45.4 billion budget for the forthcoming 2024-25 fiscal year
https://scvnews.com/kathryn-barger-statement-in-support-of-45-4b-county-budget/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-24, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Happy 'Inject Bleach To Fight Covid' Day!
https://crooksandliars.com/2024/04/happy-inject-bleach-fight-covid-day
Remnants of bird flu virus found in pasteurized milk, FDA says
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/remnants-of-bird-flu-virus-found-in-pasteurized-milk-fda-says/7582657.html
SCV Sheriff’s Station hosting drug take-back day
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
News release Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies will be taking part in the “DEA National Drug Take Back Day” between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday in front of the SCV Sheriff’s Station at 26201 Golden Valley Road. Community members are encouraged to drop off unwanted medications at the SCV Sheriff’s Station. This […]
The post SCV Sheriff’s Station hosting drug take-back day appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/scv-sheriffs-station-hosting-drug-take-back-day/
Hannah Waddingham Officially Christens Sun Princess
date: 2024-04-24, from: SCV New (TV Station)
In a celebration held Tuesday, April 23 at the Port of Barcelona, award-winning actress and performer Hannah Waddingham officially welcomed the newest and most innovative Princess Cruises ship, Sun Princess, serving as godmother during a star-studded naming ceremony
https://scvnews.com/hannah-waddingham-officially-christens-sun-princess/
White House tweaks HIPAA to shield medical files of those seeking reproductive care
date: 2024-04-24, updated: 2024-04-24, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
In theory, this should make it harder for states to compel data-sharing to enforce anti-abortion laws
A revision to America’s healthcare privacy rules aims to better protect abortion providers and patients seeking the procedure — and other types of reproductive care, such as in vitro fertilization and contraception — as some US states ban procedures and attempt prosecutions.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/24/us_reproductive_health_data_hipaa/
U.S. News & World Report ranks SCV high schools among nation’s best
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
Six comprehensive high schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District have been ranked among the top public high schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report. West Ranch High School was ranked 807th nationally in the report, placing it in the top 5% of schools across the country. The publication’s […]
The post <strong>U.S. News & World Report ranks SCV high schools among nation’s best</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/u-s-news-world-report-ranks-scv-high-schools-among-nations-best/
White House updates national suicide prevention strategy
date: 2024-04-24, from: VOA News USA
washington — The White House on Tuesday unveiled an updated national strategy on suicide prevention that includes more emphasis on health equity and diversity and the mental-health impact of social media, revising its decade-old plan amid a national rise in suicide rates.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff launched the new strategy at the White House, which he prefaced with words of comfort and encouragement.
“It’s OK to talk about this, as tough as this topic is,” he said. “So, that’s why it’s good that we’re all here today together. It’s important we do this, because as we all know, suicide affects everyone. Doesn’t matter your age, race, gender or where you live. It impacts all of us.”
The U.S. remains in a small clique of about 40 mostly high-income nations that have national plans to combat a menace that has left no society unscarred.
In a push for more countries to develop national strategies in 2018, the World Health Organization noted that “only a few countries in the low-income and middle-income categories have adopted a national suicide prevention strategy, even though 79% of suicides occur in these settings.”
American health professionals told VOA a national plan is essential to tackling the problem.
“The new national strategy focuses on a”whole of society” approach, which is unique —and critical — because no single entity alone can reduce suicide rates. But together, we have a real opportunity for impact,” Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told VOA in an email.
Doctors who worked with the White House on the plan noted that not all its recommendations are strictly medical. Many are social and involve being more open about a matter that is often seen as taboo.
“When it comes to a national strategy, you’re actually looking to employ a multipronged approach,” Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, told VOA. “So, you would be looking to increase your mental health professional workforce that is culturally aligned with the population.
“But you’d also be looking to other things that low- and middle-income countries can do more readily, such as increasing interpersonal connectedness in schools and in workplaces — really these community-based approaches that have been found to be incredibly effective at reducing suicides. So, things like addressing loneliness, addressing interpersonal violence.”
American actor Ashley Judd, who spoke at the White House on Tuesday, also stressed the importance of legitimizing mental illness. Her mother, musician Naomi Judd, committed suicide in 2022.
“She won several Grammys, and she left country music better than she found it,” Judd said of her mother, who was 76. “She also lived most of her life with an untreated and undiagnosed mental illness that lied to her and stole from her. And it stole from our family, and she deserved better.”
Another issue the updated plan wrestled with is a uniquely American one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 55% of American suicides are committed with firearms.
“There is a very strong section on firearm suicide prevention in the national strategy,” Moutier said, noting that the federal strategy mentions the important role of state-level red flag laws that would restrict firearms access for buyers who may harm themselves or others.
The new strategy also emphasizes the value of “lived experience” — the validity of survivors’ stories and those of their loved ones, who are scarred by the suicide.
Musician Aloe Blacc spoke Tuesday of how he uses music to heal after the 2018 suicide of his close friend, Swedish electronica artist Tim Bergling – better known by his stage name, Avicii.
On the anniversary of his friend’s death, Blacc recorded a version of his hit, “Wake Me Up.”He also recorded a version he sang in Mandarin and Spanish.
And on Tuesday, Blacc, sitting in the high-ceilinged, marble-walled room on the White House campus, burst into spontaneous song. His warm tenor filled the cavernous room as he sang a gospel standard, “This Little Light of Mine.”
“Just remember,” he said. “You are the light.”
Blacc offered some simple advice to those who themselves may be struggling or know someone who is.
“I want to encourage all of us here today and all of us watching to recognize the role that we can play, the positive role that we can play in someone else’s life,” he said.
Or, as Wesolowski said, “The most important thing we can do is show up. …The action of reaching out is more important than the words you say, and sometimes it can make all the difference.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention shared with VOA this list of international suicide hotlines.
https://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-updates-national-suicide-prevention-strategy/7582638.html
People Walk to Stores
date: 2024-04-24, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Randy Rowse needs to explain how opening State Street to vehicles will benefit downtown businesses.
The post People Walk to Stores appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/23/people-walk-to-stores/
Battery Swapping Motorcycles Are Coming To Brazil From Startup Vammo
date: 2024-04-24, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
It employs battery swapping technology similar to what we’re seeing in Asia.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717043/vammo-emobility-startup-brazil/
Family seeks help after fatal crash
date: 2024-04-24, from: The Signal
The family and friends of a man who died in an April 12 crash on The Old Road is seeking the community’s help to cover the cost of a funeral for the father of two. Mario Alberto Contreras Hernandez, 39, of Castaic, was driving his Subaru north toward Constitution Avenue around 12:40 a.m. when he […]
The post <strong>Family seeks help after fatal crash</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/family-seeks-help-after-fatal-crash/
PGDay UK 2024, September 11th, London, England
date: 2024-04-24, from: PostgreSQL News
PGDay UK 2024 will take place in London on September 11th at the Cavendish Conference Centre, London, UK.
Our Call for Papers and Call for Sponsors are now open.
We are accepting proposals for talks in English. Each session will last 50 minutes, and may be on any topic related to PostgreSQL. The submission deadline is 9th June 2024 23:59:59 BST. Selected speakers will be notified on or before July 1st, 2024. Please submit your proposals here:
https://2024.pgday.uk/call-for-papers/
The proposals will be considered by a committee who will produce a schedule to be published nearer the conference date. The members of the committee are listed on the website linked above. All selected speakers will get free entry to the conference.
Our Call for Sponsors is also open. Take your chance to present your services or products to the PostgreSQL community - or see it as a give-back opportunity. The benefactor sponsorship level also includes a free entrance ticket. Please head to:
https://2024.pgday.uk/become-sponsor/ for more details.
As usual, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at contact@pgday.uk.
We look forward to seeing you in London on September the 11th!
PGDay UK 2024 is a PostgreSQL Europe event run according to the PostgreSQL Community Conference Recognition programme. Local logistics and other services are provided by Slonik Enterprises Ltd. on a not-for-profit basis.
https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/pgday-uk-2024-september-11th-london-england-2847/
Common views and questions about metadata across Africa
date: 2024-04-24, from: Crossref Blog
This past year has been a captivating journey of immersion within the Crossref community, a mix of online interactions and meaningful in-person experiences. From the engaging Sustainability Research and Innovation Conference in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to the impactful webinars conducted globally, this has been more than just a professional endeavour; it has been a personal exploration of collaboration, insights, and a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of scholarly communication.
Working collaboratively with research funders and research organisations
Cocreation activity in smaller groups at the SRI conference.
The adventure began with a significant in-person event, the Sustainability Research and Innovation Conference. In the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, I had the honour of hosting a parallel co-creation session titled “Connecting Science to Society: A Network Approach to Improving Science Communication in the Global South.” The co-creation session addressed research discoverability and accessibility among early-career researchers. Apart from some immediate feedback from the researchers in the room about how they might use co-creation beyond the conference to improve their research experience and outcome, I also had conversations with research funders from the Belmont Forum, Future Earth, and National Research Foundation - South Africa and the National Research Foundation - Mozambique about connecting their grants and grantees with their published outputs referencing Crossref’s Open Funder Registry and research grants registration. A different side conversation was about a community organisation in Botswana that is interested in registering patents with Crossref for proper referencing and protecting the intellectual property of their research on the indigenous communities’ innovations and the associated published work. These conversations are ongoing, unveiling a new understanding of unique needs and opportunities to pursue with research funders and research organisations working on indigenous knowledge and innovations.
Learning from organisations in GEM-eligible countries
The journey extended globally through a series of webinars conducted in Bangladesh, Tanzania, Nepal, and Ghana. Collaborating with dedicated Ambassadors and my colleagues leading the Global Equitable Membership (GEM) program, we witnessed an increase in Crossref membership from the GEM countries and initial metadata registration. The GEM Program offers relief from both Crossref membership and Crossref content registration fees for organisations in the least economically advantaged countries in the world, based on the World Bank’s IDA list. Susan, in her blog post, “The GEM Program: Year One”, elaborated on the significance of these efforts and their impact on fostering equitable access to scholarly resources and communication through the expansion of Crossref’s membership base in underrepresented regions, such as Bangladesh, Tanzania, Nepal, and Ghana. Specific concerns encountered while presenting the GEM program included feedback expressing reservations about the program’s approach, particularly in deciding on eligible countries, and advocating eligibility for the program to be extended to all the non-GEM countries in Africa. Additionally, a conversation with some organisations brought up concerns regarding the program’s sustainability, with inquiries about whether GEM was merely a free trial or freemium service, and seeking assurances against future fees. The audience found these sessions helpful, acknowledging that joining fees were no longer going to be a barrier, yet questions about the program’s longevity brought out the need for sustained support.
Discussing how The Research Nexus can support the community
My journey then led me to Makerere University in Uganda for the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL 2023) conference and the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM 2023) in Abu Dhabi. In Uganda, I noticed the synergy between university libraries, institutional repositories, and the research and education network service provider formed a consortium that played a crucial role in bridging the digital gap and supporting the adoption of open infrastructure. The event was mainly attended by librarians from different universities in Uganda. Most of those I connected with needed more information about Crossref and had questions about how Crossref DOIs are different from ARKs, which they commonly use in their publishing workflows. At FORM 2023, in my presentation titled, “The Research Nexus: A Rich and Reusable Open Network of Relationships in the Scholarly Record,” I shared Crossref’s vision for a connected research ecosystem with the audience that comprised of researchers, research administrators, and funders, and a good number of big publishers like IEEE and Taylor & Francis. The Research Nexus seeks to reveal relationships beyond persistent identifiers, utilising rich metadata to connect various scholarly components. I also took the opportunity at both events to share about The Publishers Learning And Community Exchange (PLACE), an online forum promoting best practices in scholarly publishing. The goal was to show attendees how they can actively contribute to and benefit from this vision, fostering a robust and interconnected research community through Crossref’s open infrastructure.
Photo with Dr. Salwan Abdulateef, rossref Ambassador - Iraq
I enjoyed the opportunity to join the National Open Science Dialogue by TCC Africa, which provided crucial insights, emphasising the need for assessing awareness, implementing comprehensive policies, and fostering collaboration around Open Science. Higher education institutions were recognized as influencers in the global Open Science movement, while a call for an inclusive research environment was underscored through open access and data sharing. The dialogue emphasized a collective effort involving policymakers, educators, researchers, and institutions, focusing on inclusivity and collaboration to advance Open Science in East Africa.
Exploring how rich metadata can provide trust signals with members in Kenya
Reflecting on the Crossref Nairobi event that happened in February 2024, it was an enriching experience exploring key issues shaping scholarly publishing in Kenya. The discussions also touched on the role of metadata as a trust signal and a tool for the persistence of the scholarly record, particularly in regions where data protection challenges persist. This is exemplified by concerns raised during the event about the fear of data theft, misuse, or loss, especially in places with comparatively weaker data protection laws. The presence of robust metadata, particularly with detailed provenance information, becomes crucial in such contexts, as it enables better identification and handling of potential misuse. Thus, through effective metadata implementation and the persistence facilitated by identifiers, the management of data risks can be significantly improved.
The insights from existing Crossref members pointed out contextual challenges, regional differences, and the importance of effective post-publication processes. The conference served as a valuable platform for dialogue, emphasising the collective commitment to continuous improvement of scholarly communication in the country, and the need for continuous awareness and training on making the most of Crossref services. The roundtable discussions during the Crossmark service consultation brought to light various reflections and considerations regarding post-publication changes in publishing workflows. The Crossmark service was a new discovery for most participants, with potential value recognized in facilitating current updates on articles. However, there are existing barriers such as a lack of awareness and technical expertise, suggesting the need for further education to facilitate adoption. Overall, the consultation provided a platform for introspection and exploration of avenues for improving post-publication practices in scholarly publishing.
Crossref Nairobi group photo
We organised the Crossref Nairobi event with the help of colleagues from the outreach team and local Ambassadors, Mercury Shitindo of Kenya, Baraka Ngussa of Tanzania and our Board Members in Kenya, Oscar Donde. It was the first time I saw both my colleagues and Ambassadors in action and working closely together - making presentations and accommodating last-minute facilitation changes to the program. Compared to attending or speaking at an event, organising one was a unique experience requiring a lot of planning in advance for logistics and the event program, identifying and keeping in touch with important stakeholders, ushering guests and being on standby for any matters that come up about the event. All of that went very well thanks to the team on the ground and cooperative participants.
Exploring the role of open infrastructure for African universities
Attending the recent WACREN 2024 conference was an eye-opening experience, unfolding the role of open infrastructure in addressing challenges faced by African universities. A focus on open access systems and advocacy for decolonizing knowledge were voiced too, including challenges of affordability of DOIs and questions of local ownership amidst global initiatives. Global persistent identifier providers, including ORCID and DataCite too, had a presence at the conference, alongside passionate advocates for more locally managed, decentralised infrastructure. These are concerns that Crossref needs to understand better, as we seek to find effective ways of supporting equitable participation in the Research Nexus. The conference resonated with a call for continued work in fostering accessibility, sharing, and leveraging resources to accelerate research and innovation in Africa.
Photo with our Ambassadors from West Africa at WACREN 2024 event: Blessing Abumere - Nigeria, Audrey Kenni Nganmeni - Cameroon, Richard Lamptey - Ghana and Oumy Ndiaye - Senegal.
Conversations with Crossref Ambassadors brought about a shared narrative across universities in some African countries. These institutions are actively embracing digital shifts, setting up institutional repositories using platforms like DSpace and OJS. However, challenges persist, particularly in funding and technical capacity. It’s heartening to see how national and regional research and education networks step in to help in internet connectivity, opening up collaboration opportunities with other interoperable infrastructure, setting up repositories, providing hosting services and event managing content identifiers.
Deceptive publishing practices remain a shared concern, and we’ve had requests at these meetings for stricter inclusion criteria for membership of Crossref to ensure quality and trustworthiness of articles accessible through Crossref metadata.
We’ve explained to those we’ve met that Crossref doesn’t (and can’t) assess the quality of content or the integrity of the research process. We don’t have the people or the skills, and it isn’t our mission to be the gatekeepers of research quality. A DOI record is just an indication that something was published, it isn’t an indication of quality.
However, we do still have a vital role in preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. We provide the infrastructure which enables those who produce scholarly outputs to provide metadata (effectively evidence) about how they ensure the quality of content and how the outputs fit into the scholarly record. The scholarly record - that network of published outputs, inputs, relationships and contexts - is captured through the metadata records that our members register with us, and that we then distribute freely and openly through our API. The richer and more comprehensive Crossref records are, the more context there is for our members and for the whole scholarly research ecosystem to make their own decisions around trustworthiness. Blocking access to the infrastructure creates gaps in the scholarly record, but also potentially blocks legitimate newcomers.
“Crossref is focused on enriching metadata to provide more and better trust signals while keeping barriers to membership and participation as low as possible to enable an inclusive scholarly record.” Read more about Crossref’s role in preserving the integrity of the Scholarly record in the blog post by Amanda Bartell.
While the landscape of digital scholarly publication witnesses significant strides, a crucial need persists, the importance of preserving and interconnecting metadata to the global scholarly record. It’s not just about discoverability, a theme resonating strongly within the community, but about enabling reproducibility, upholding research and editorial integrity, and facilitating reporting and assessment.
The path forward
As I reflect on this year of immersing myself within the Crossref community, building awareness in new communities, and learning more about the different perceptions across the region, it feels like a personal progression of growth and discovery. From the captivating in-person moments to the global webinars and collaborative efforts to address challenges in scholarly communication, this journey is not just a professional pursuit; it’s a personal exploration. The path forward involves continued support, intensified awareness-building, and sustained dialogue, ensuring that the scholarly ecosystem continues to thrive, evolve, and leave a lasting impact.
https://www.crossref.org/blog/common-views-and-questions-about-metadata-across-africa/