News gathered 2024-04-26
(date: 2024-04-26 08:43:55)
California driver fatally run over as he leans out to shut truck’s charging port
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
He left the truck in drive and “partially exited” it, leaning to reach the port on the left front quarter-panel, according to a witness’s account.
East Bay girl fends off man who grabbed her wrist while also trying to unlock a car
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
The encounter happened in Concord on Wednesday about 7:10 a.m.
LEVER TIME: Amazon Is Eating The Economy
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Lever News
In a landmark lawsuit filed last year by the Federal Trade Commission, the government accuses Amazon of long being engaged in illegal market behavior.
https://www.levernews.com/lever-time-amazon-is-eating-the-economy/
Can These Guys Revive A Pair Of Salvage Bikes In 48 Hours And Ride Away?
date: 2024-04-26, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Is it a bad bike idea or a mad bike idea? That all depends on if they pull it off.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717527/brick-house-builds-revival-challenge/
Pac-12 recruiting: Arizona State’s wild week ends well as UCLA keeps Toia and Colorado’s portal experience churns on
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
The Sun Devils lost key players to the transfer portal but secured commitments from several recruits.
Big Investments From Toyota, Honda Prove EVs Are Far From ‘Done’
date: 2024-04-26, from: Inside EVs News
We also discuss the brutal “elimination round” in China’s EV market and former Tesla executive Drew Baglino selling over a million Tesla shares.
https://insideevs.com/news/717643/toyota-honda-make-big-ev-investments/
Prince Andrew and Fergie’s curious parenting: OK when Beatrice, 17, dated older ‘playboy’ accused of manslaughter
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
The drug overdose death of Beatrice’s troubled ex-boyfriend has renewed questions about why her parents let her start dating him when she was under-aged.
The eight-bit Z80 is dead. Long live the 16-bit Z80!
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Yes, they are harder to solder, but there’s way more potential
Feature The Z80 has a long series of successor models – some compatible and some not. There are multiple options for hobbyist computer builders.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/long_live_16_bit_z80/
CATL’s Latest LFP Battery Can Gain 370 Miles Of Range In 10 Minutes Of Charging
date: 2024-04-26, from: Inside EVs News
The Chinese battery giant said its Shenxing Plus packs are capable of providing a total range of up to 621 miles.
https://insideevs.com/news/717582/catl-lfp-battery-370-miles-range-10-minute-charge/
Reduce, reuse, resale : Sunnyvale nonprofit supplies leftover fabric, craft supplies at affordable costs
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
FabMo co-founder Hannah Cranch explains the inspiration behind the nonprofit.
Tesla Autopilot is again under NHTSA investigation after doubts over recall remedy
date: 2024-04-26, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla Autopilot finds itself once again under NHTSA investigation after the agency is now doubting the effectiveness over the 2-million vehicle “recall” last year.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/26/tesla-autopilot-under-nhtsa-investigation-doubts-recall-remedy/
Tabloid publisher answering more questions at Trump’s trial
date: 2024-04-26, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/tabloid-publisher-answering-more-questions-at-trump-s-trial-/7586331.html
Welcome back, net neutrality
date: 2024-04-26, from: Marketplace Morning Report
The Federal Communications Commission has repealed a Trump-era ruling that ended net neutrality — basically the idea that internet providers can’t favor some sites or apps over others. We dig into why it’s such a hot topic and how the new decision might affect your internet access. Plus, the inflation outlook with Chris Low from FHN Financial.
https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-morning-report/welcome-back-net-neutrality
New Zealand Becomes the Latest Country to Pivot to the U.S.
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: RAND blog
Wellington’s strategic pivot is good news for Washington and its allies. But the United States should temper its expectations: New Zealand is likely to continue to preserve productive relations with China while it emphasizes the importance of stronger security ties with the United States.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/04/new-zealand-becomes-the-latest-country-to-pivot-to.html
Second Patient Receives Gene-Edited Pig Kidney Transplant in Breakthrough Surgery
date: 2024-04-26, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The woman, 54-year-old Lisa Pisano, also received a mechanical heart pump implant days earlier, making her the first person to undergo both procedures
One dead, one wounded in Oakland shooting
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
The Friday morning killing is the 26th homicide investigated by police this year
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/26/one-dead-one-wounded-in-oakland-shooting-2/
Hertz To Sell Off Even More EVs As Depreciation Losses Mount
date: 2024-04-26, from: Inside EVs News
But the rental giant’s losses can be your gain if you’re shopping electric and want to save a buck.
https://insideevs.com/news/717612/hertz-ev-sales-2024/
Minority stake in San Francisco Giants targets team at $4 billion valuation
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
A consortium of investors led by Peter Magowan bought the Giants in 1992 for $100 million. The team has since become one of the more profitable teams in the league, and has invested in redeveloping its waterfront stadium.
BYD unveils sleek new electric hatch and 1,000 hp tri-motor Denza Z9 GT EV
date: 2024-04-26, from: Electrek Feed
China’s BYD is unleashing a series of new electric vehicles as it expands the brand globally. BYD unveiled two new EVs at the Beijing Auto Show: a sleek Ocean-M electric hatch and the Denza Z9 GT EV. Check out the first images below.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/26/byd-unveils-sleek-new-electric-hatch-1000-hp-z9-gt-ev/
No, You Shouldn’t Be Able to Run Down a Wolf With a Snowmobile
date: 2024-04-26, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
As a hunter, I vehemently oppose such cruelty.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717528/wolf-snowmobile-law-predator-wildlife-conservation-hunting/
20 least-affordable US cities to buy a home are all in California
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
A California home costs 8.4 times income ($765,197 vs. $91,551) compared to 4.7 times nationally – $347,716 price vs. 74,755 income.
A new use for fiber optic lines: detecting earthquakes, Caltech researchers say
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
Imagine repurposing underground fiber optic cables, typically used for delivering high-speed Internet to California residents, to detect and measure earthquakes. That is the focus of a recent research by scientists at the California Institute of Technology led by Zhongwen Zhan.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/26/a-new-use-for-fiber-optic-lines-detecting-earthquakes/
NASA’s Hubble Pauses Science Due to Gyro Issue
date: 2024-04-26, from: NASA breaking news
NASA is working to resume science operations of the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode April 23 due to an ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue. Hubble’s instruments are stable, and the telescope is in good health. The telescope automatically entered safe mode when one of its three gyroscopes gave faulty readings. The gyros […]
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-pauses-science-due-to-gyro-issue/
NASA’s Commercial Partners Deliver Cargo, Crew for Station Science
date: 2024-04-26, from: NASA breaking news
NASA partners with commercial companies to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation of cargo and crew members to and from the International Space Station. A platform for long-duration research in microgravity, the station has operated continuously for more than 23 years, its crew members conducting a broad range of technology demonstrations and thousands of experiments […]
San Francisco homicide: Shooting in South of Market neighborhood
date: 2024-04-26, from: San Jose Mercury News
The shooting occurred around 4:45 a.m. on April 13 in the area of Sixth Street between Market and Mission.
Elon Musk’s Self-Driving Promises Are Getting Old
date: 2024-04-26, from: Inside EVs News
Tesla’s CEO has been making lofty predictions about robotic taxis and self-driving cars for nearly a decade. Is this time any different?
https://insideevs.com/news/717533/tesla-musk-self-driving-promises/
Encrypted email service files DMA complaint claiming it vanished from Google Search
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Tuta cries foul, Chocolate Factory denies service unreachable
Tutao, known for the encrypted email service Tuta Mail, has filed a Digital Markets Act (DMA) complaint to the EU over an alleged de-ranking in Google Search.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/google_search_dma_complaint/
Discord Shuts Down ‘Spy Pet’ Bots That Scraped, Sold User Messages
date: 2024-04-26, from: 404 Media Group
After 404 Media reported on the service last week, Discord has now shut down a mass of scraping accounts and says it is considering legal action.
https://www.404media.co/discord-shuts-down-spy-pet-bots-that-scraped-sold-user-messages/
This California Sheriff’s Deputy May Have Been a Secret Outlaw Biker
date: 2024-04-26, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Probably not the best second job…
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717372/california-sheriff-deputy-outlaw-biker-mongols/
Tesla Cybertruck’s Battery Can Power A House. Owner Quoted $30,000 To Make That Happen
date: 2024-04-26, from: Inside EVs News
Costs vary wildly and owners have to go through Tesla-approved installers, which may make it harder for some to get the work done.
https://insideevs.com/news/717559/tesla-cybertruck-powershare-install-estimate/
Blinken warns China over support for Russia’s war efforts
date: 2024-04-26, from: VOA News USA
Seoul, South Korea — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “serious concern” about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry on Friday, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter.
Blinken’s comments came in Beijing, shortly after he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese leaders during meetings that covered a wide range of disputes between the two powers.
Near the top of Blinken’s agenda, U.S. officials said, was China’s provision of items such as microchips, machine tools, and other items Russia is using to create weapons for use in its war against Ukraine.
“I told Xi, if China does not address this problem, we will,” said Blinken.
For weeks, U.S. officials have hinted at further sanctions meant to deter China’s provision of so-called dual-use items to Russia, which Washington says has been crucial to Moscow’s war on Ukraine. It is not clear how far Washington will go, however, since cutting off major Chinese banks from the U.S. financial system also could hurt the U.S. and global economy.
At a press conference in Beijing, Blinken did not reveal details about any possible measures, stating only that the United States has already imposed sanctions on more than 100 Chinese entities. “We’re fully prepared to act, take additional measures, and I made that very clear in my meetings today,” he noted.
China has defended its approach to Russia, saying it is only engaged in normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner. In his public remarks Friday, Xi did not mention the Russia-Ukraine issue. Instead, he focused on the necessity for U.S.-China ties to improve.
“China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences, rather than engage in vicious competition,” Xi said.
Blinken’s meeting with Xi had not been previously announced but was widely expected.
U.S.-China relations stabilized last year, after Xi met U.S. President Joe Biden in California. At that summit, the two sides agreed to reopen military-to-military communication and take steps to reduce the flow of fentanyl, a dangerous narcotic responsible for tens of thousands of drug overdoses in the United States each year.
Blinken cited “important progress” on the fentanyl issue, even while insisting China needs to do more, including prosecute those who sell chemicals and equipment used to make fentanyl. Blinken also announced that both sides agreed to hold their first talks related to concerns over artificial intelligence.
Even as communications lines remain open, the United States and China continue to spar over a broad range of issues, including trade policies and territorial disputes.
The Biden administration is concerned about cheap Chinese exports, including heavily subsidized green technology products they say are undercutting U.S. companies.
During a five-and-a-half hour meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, Blinken raised concerns, including the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese activities in the disputed South China Sea, and the need to avoid further escalation in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula, according to a U.S. readout.
China accuses the United States of inappropriately trying to contain its economic and military power. Following his meeting with Blinken, Wang said China-U.S. ties are “beginning to stabilize” but asserted that negative factors are “increasing and building,” warning that the relationship faces “all kinds of disruptions.”
“Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?” Wang asked. “This is a major question before our two countries.”
https://www.voanews.com/a/blinken-warns-china-over-support-for-russia-s-war-efforts/7586212.html
New Statue Honors Elizabeth II—and Her Beloved Corgis
date: 2024-04-26, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The seven-foot-tall bronze monument is billed as the “first permanent memorial” to the late queen
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-elizabeth-ii-statue-corgis-180984225/
Red Bull’s 217 Mph Drone Aims to Revolutionize Race Broadcasting
date: 2024-04-26, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Motorsports can live and die by our ability to portray the live-action. Finally, we have a drone capable of showcasing MotoGP’s ferocity.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717526/worlds-fastest-camera-drone-motogp-redbull/
Pew: Asian Americans fastest growing group of US voters
date: 2024-04-26, from: VOA News USA
Asian Americans are the fastest growing group of eligible voters in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. That makes them an important focus for presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump. VOA correspondent Scott Stearns has our story. Video: VOA Khmer Service, VOA Mandarin Service, Matt Dibble
https://www.voanews.com/a/pew-asian-americans-fastest-growing-group-of-us-voters/7586174.html
TikTok ban could escalate US-China trade war, ex-White House CIO tells The Reg
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Doing business in Beijing? ‘You need to do a what-if scenario’
interview It didn’t seem America’s divest-or-ban bill for TikTok was going to make it into law when we last spoke with former White House chief information officer Theresa Payton – but law it now is. …
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/tiktok_ban_payton/
Three new NVMe systems from RISCOSbits at Wakefield
date: 2024-04-26, from: RiscOS Story
This year’s Wakefield in Bradford – aka Wradfold show takes place tomorrow, so if you haven’t already sorted your travel plans (why not?) you probably still have a little time, and there are three more reasons to do so from RISCOSbits. Using the innovative and fast NVMe drivers, produced in conjunction with RISC OS Open and Stader Softwareentwicklung, the company will be bringing along a trio of new NVMe-based systems. The first system, priced at £199, is a new PiHard series machine, called eNVy.Me. The compact machine can hold one…
https://www.riscository.com/2024/three-new-nvme-systems-from-riscosbits-at-wakefield/
PeerJ Awards Winner at BSP 2024
date: 2024-04-26, from: PeerJ blog
In April 2024, the British Society for Parasitology Spring Meeting came to Liverpool, a city that has long been a home to parasitology and to a vibrant community of researchers dedicated to combatting parasitic diseases in the UK and worldwide. BSP 2024 brought around 500 people from the parasitological community together to discuss the latest […]
https://peerj.com/blog/post/115284889148/peerj-awards-winner-at-bsp-2024/
Live together in perfect harmony…
date: 2024-04-26, from: Status-Q blog
I’m fond of both milk and dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is yummy kiddy comfort food. Dark chocolate is more sophisticated, more bitter, more ‘adult’. It’s also less likely to melt at inconvenient times, so helping you preserve that more sophisticated appearance. But the problem, I find, is that dark chocolate often has too little taste. Continue Reading
https://statusq.org/archives/2024/04/26/12039/
NASA’s ORCA, AirHARP Projects Paved Way for PACE to Reach Space
date: 2024-04-26, from: NASA breaking news
It took the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission just 13 minutes to reach low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in February 2024. It took a network of scientists at NASA and research institutions around the world more than 20 years to carefully craft and test the novel instruments that allow PACE […]
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/pace/nasas-orca-airharp-projects-paved-way-for-pace-to-reach-space/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-26, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
The Tech Baron Seeking to “Ethnically Cleanse” San Francisco.
https://newrepublic.com/article/180487/balaji-srinivasan-network-state-plutocrat
Apple Removes Nonconsensual AI Nude Apps Following 404 Media Investigation
date: 2024-04-26, from: 404 Media Group
Apple and Google appear more willing to take action against these apps than they were in the past.
https://www.404media.co/apple-removes-nonconsensual-ai-nude-apps-following-404-media-investigation/
Kawasaki Is Turning Into Bimota Racing Team For The 2025 WSBK Season
date: 2024-04-26, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
More specifically, the new team will be called ‘Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team’.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717498/kawasaki-bimota-world-superbike-2025/
One thing we can all agree on? Housing is too expensive
date: 2024-04-26, from: Marketplace Morning Report
Consumer sentiment reports reflect a universal truth: Lower income households feel the punch of inflation worse than wealthy households. But affordable housing — and lack thereof — is one issue that brings Americans together, across the wealth divide. Plus, Christopher Bass tells us what it’s like to be a high school basketball coach with a massive social media following. At just 5 years old, he’s got big hoop dreams.
You Can Lease An EV For As Low As $56 A Month In Washington State
date: 2024-04-26, from: Inside EVs News
The program is aimed at middle- and lower-income families and individuals. But they make a Toyota bZ4X as cheap as $56 a month to lease.
https://insideevs.com/news/717570/washington-state-ev-incentive/
Don’t Miss Your Chance To Own One of the Rarest Yamahas Ever
date: 2024-04-26, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
This FZR750R homologation special is one of just 500 units, and Iconic’s no-reserve auction is your best chance to re-home it.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717371/yamaha-fzr750r-0w01-auction/
UK’s Investigatory Powers Bill to become law despite tech world opposition
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Only minor changes from original proposals that kicked up privacy storm
The UK’s contentious Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill (IPB) 2024 has officially received the King’s nod of approval and will become law.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/investigatory_powers_bill/
Antony Blinken meets with China’s President Xi
date: 2024-04-26, from: Marketplace Morning Report
From the BBC World Service: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday — we’ll get into what they spoke about. Plus, Chinese tech company ByteDance says it has no intention of selling TikTok to comply with a new U.S. law. And back in January, Japan Airlines announced its first female president and chief executive. We’ll hear from a former flight attendant who says Japan has a ways to go when it comes to workplace gender equality.
KTM’s 450 Rally Replica Gets A Major Overhaul For The New Year
date: 2024-04-26, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
New engine, new frame, and a connected system of fuel tanks that holds over 9 gallons are three of the highlights.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717352/2025-ktm-450-rally-replica/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-26, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Tesla Autopilot investigation closed after feds find 13 fatal crashes related to misuse.
https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/26/tesla-nhtsa-autopilot-investigation-closed-fatal-crashes/
Hubble Spots a Magnificent Barred Galaxy
date: 2024-04-26, from: NASA breaking news
The magnificent central bar of NGC 2217 (also known as AM 0619-271) shines bright in the constellation of Canis Major (The Greater Dog), in this image taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Roughly 65 million light-years from Earth, this barred spiral galaxy is a similar size to our Milky Way at 100,000 light-years across. Many stars are concentrated in […]
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-spots-a-magnificent-barred-galaxy/
John Boston | Oh Joe! Were ‘Eat Me!!’ but a Euphemism
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Signal
I was touched and saddened to hear the other day that the Deity of Dumbness, the high god of Democrats, Joe Biden, had an uncle eaten by cannibals. I hate that when that happens. Joe offered another public confession recently. The president of the United States this time didn’t claim to have de-droughted the West, Pecos […]
The post John Boston | Oh Joe! Were ‘Eat Me!!’ but a Euphemism appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/john-boston-oh-joe-were-eat-me-but-a-euphemism/
Norma Lindemann | Bringing Back the Smiles
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Signal
I have often mused on and written about the downside of our current society. But I am well aware of the good in the hearts not only of my friends but also in the upside of the world we live in. I am blessed to have friends who are funny, kind, introspective, generous and truly […]
The post Norma Lindemann | Bringing Back the Smiles appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/norma-lindemann-bringing-back-the-smiles/
Philip Wasserman | An Ethical Spoiler Alert to Ponder
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Signal
My latest streaming binge is “3 Body Problem” on Netflix. This is a smart and creative science fiction series with a good dose of mystery, and a dash of detective story. Happily, there are no flying saucers or laser guns, at least so far. I’ve received a basic lesson in quantum physics that I understood, […]
The post Philip Wasserman | An Ethical Spoiler Alert to Ponder appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/philip-wasserman-an-ethical-spoiler-alert-to-ponder/
45 Drives adds Linux-powered mini PCs, workstations to growing compute lineup
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Plus the system builder says an Arm-based system is already in the works
Exclusive Canadian systems builder 45 Drives is perhaps best known for the dense multi-drive storage systems employed by the likes of Backblaze and others, but over the last year the biz has expanded its line-up to virtualization kit, and now low-power clients and workstations aimed at enterprises and home enthusiasts alike.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/45_drives_pcs/
Formula E’s new car is all-wheel drive and accelerates faster than F1
date: 2024-04-26, from: Electrek Feed
Formula E unveiled its new “Gen3 EVO” car, an update to the Gen3 car which debuted last season, ahead of the Monaco ePrix this weekend.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/26/formula-es-new-car-is-all-wheel-drive-and-accelerates-faster-than-f1/
P&B: Veronique
date: 2024-04-26, from: Manu - I write blog
<p>This is the 35th edition of <em>People and Blogs</em>, the series where I ask interesting people to talk about themselves and their blogs. Today we have Veronique and her blog, <a href="https://veronique.ink">veronique.ink</a></p>To follow this series subscribe to the newsletter. A new interview will land in your inbox every Friday. Not a fan of newsletters? No problem! You can read the interviews here on the blog or you can subscribe to the RSS feed.
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Let’s start from the basics: can you introduce yourself?
Hi, my name is Veronique, and I’m an artist, writer, and zine maker. I live in Toronto with my dog, Muskoka. I love making zines and championing small-press indie writers. I enjoy discovering new artists, going for trail hikes with my doggo, making art while listening to tunes, daydreaming, exchanging emails as personal letters, and discovering new personal blogs. Lately, I’ve been teaching myself how to play my late father’s guitar.
What’s the story behind your blog?
I started my blog in August 2022, after stumbling upon a few personal sites. I became enchanted by these quiet spaces away from social media. One blog in particular, TMO (no longer active), inspired me to start writing. His vulnerable, daily slice-of-life posts immediately catapulted me into wanting to document my life through blogging.
My search for a simple writing platform took some time, but eventually, I came across Bearblog, which won me over with its simplicity. I’m not tech-savvy, so the fewer bells and whistles a platform has, the more I can concentrate on what matters—writing.
My dad fell ill in the fall of 2022, and writing on my blog became a lifeline. Writing online created a cocooned arena for exploring my wayward thoughts and feelings and forged an invisible string, tying me to far-flung strangers across the web. Blogging felt like a refuge and reminded me that we’re all sharing this bumpy, precarious timeline together.
I read once that you should write your obsessions. Not only for yourself but also to find your kind. Being an introvert, this sentiment really resonated with me. Connecting through personal blogs can sometimes feel deeper than in-person interactions. Since writing on my blog, I’ve met the most wonderful internet denizens who have morphed into veritable email comrades—and I love it.
What does your creative process look like when it comes to blogging?
My posts are primarily short-form and meant to be a catch-all container for ideas and preserving fragments of ordinary moments. I prefer to write in spontaneous, off-the-cuff spurts. Thoughts, ideas, and links to things I want to share are written in my phone notes app or the myriad unfinished journals around my apartment.
I’ve been fond of writing posts in bullet form lately. It’s a quick way to record passing thoughts and share pictures, ideas, and quotes I like. I feel like personal blogs are in constant flux and unpolished by nature, which appeals to me.
Do you have an ideal creative environment? Also, do you believe the physical space influences your creativity?
I like to write first thing in the morning before I’m swayed emotionally by other people’s output.
I’ve romanticized having an old wooden “writers’ desk” in the corner of my living room, but I have a sneaking suspicion I’d still end up on the couch, scrunched up with horrible posture with my laptop over my legs.
I like to blog on my phone when I’m out and about—busy pubs, cafes, or on the bus. Plunking myself in new places sharpens my observational rolodex and removes me from my regular inner dialogue.
A question for the techie readers: can you run us through your tech stack?
My setup is minimal. I write on my MacBook Air M2 laptop and iPhone 15 Pro phone. Bearblog hosts my blog, and my domain name is registered with GoDaddy. C’est tout!
Given your experience, if you were to start a blog today, would you do anything differently?
I haven’t been blogging long, but I wish I was more versed in HTML and CSS. I’ve spent countless hours combing the net for tips on how best to tinker with my site. I enjoy it, though, as it feels like solving a mini-puzzle.
The other thing would be allowing people to subscribe to my blog with their email. I need to remedy that asap.
Financial question since the web is obsessed with money: how much does it cost to run your blog? Is it just a cost or does it generate some revenue? And what’s your position on people monetizing personal blogs?
For now, Bearblog is $20 a year, and it costs me about $35 to renew my domain.
Monetizing a blog feels like a touchy subject, and a lot of people are put off by paying someone for online writing. Newsletter fatigue is real, and being hit with member fees in every nook and cranny on the net is rampant.
But from a creative perspective, people still have to pay rent, and people still need to eat.
Artists, writers, and makers should and can make a living doing what they love.
I’m a huge proponent of supporting artists for their work. I allocate about $20 a month to support my favorites through platforms like Patreon, BMAC, Ko-Fi, independent newsletters, and one-off coffees.
I’d love to make a living from writing on my blog. Is this realistic, especially without ads, trackers, sponsored posts, or paywalls? I don’t know, but I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make it work. I keep trying different things and am not afraid to pivot if something isn’t working. It’s tough, but it’s something I love working towards.
The idea of making money from my writing still feels uncomfortable sometimes. There’s a touch of imposter syndrome, low self-esteem, and not feeling in league with the high-caliber writers of Substack, etc, but I keep pushing through. However, money aside, writing and sharing things on my blog is something I deeply cherish and will continue doing regardless of monetary gain.
Time for some recommendations: any blog you think is worth checking out? And also, who do you think I should be interviewing next?
There are so many blog gems I love! Here’s a few favs:
- Anh’s website is so fun and whimsical. I’m in awe of her site’s aesthetic and how she incorporates her illustrations to further express herself.
- Lili’s Musings. Uncut, thought-provoking writing. Themes include diary-like entries, thoughts on academia, unraveling the writing process, trans struggles, and processing anxieties.
- Sven Dahlstrand. A cool human being with a really fun blog who’s always linking to interesting things.
- Growing Old With You. Ru’s blog is a tapestry of poignant writing and laid-bare slices of life, and I admire her vulnerability on the page.
- The Wallflower Digest Alice’s blog is new to me, and I’m having so much fun devouring her writing. She’s a book-loving introvert who grapples with social anxiety (like me!), and her writing topics and hobbies are wide and varied.
Lili and Anh would both be great guests for your next interview!
Final question: is there anything you want to share with us?
Read more poetry and zines!
- New to zines? Let Bre from brattyxbre and Wesley from Twenty-Two Zines guide you.
- Aswirl. Concrete poetry in quarterly installments.
- Ctrl-ZINE A collaborative zine celebrating tech and the Smol Web.
- Ellen Viola. Colorful and charming comic zines.
- Liz Mason She’s been making zines for over 20 years and manages Quimby’s Bookstore in Chicago.
If you’re an artist/writer, check out Creative Peptalk podcast by Andy J. Pizza and Cody Cook-Parrott’s weekly newsletter.
Here’s to happy-accident email friendships, shared curiosities, daydreams, and personal blogs!
This was the 35th edition of People and Blogs. Hope you enjoyed this interview with Veronique. Make sure to follow her blog (RSS) and get in touch with her if you have any questions.
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IBM and LzLabs to clash in UK court over Software Defined Mainframe
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Already facing off against each other in Texas over separate reverse engineering claims
IBM and LzLabs are to lock horns in a London court next week over Big Blue’s claim of breach of contract relating to mainframes and the development of software to allow mainframe applications run on x86 server clusters.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/ibm_and_lzlabs_uk_trial/
Stanford University Joins PeerJ in Advancing Open Access Publishing Initiatives
date: 2024-04-26, from: PeerJ blog
We are delighted to announce that Lane Medical Library & Knowledge Management Center, Stanford University School of Medicine is our newest member of the Annual Institutional Membership (AIMs) program. This collaboration underscores Stanford’s unwavering commitment to promoting open access publishing and facilitating the global dissemination of scholarly research. Through its participation in PeerJ’s AIMs program, […]
Corporate greed from Apple and Google have destroyed the passkey future
date: 2024-04-26, from: OS News
William Brown, developer of webauthn-rs, has written a scathing blog post detailing how corporate interests – namely, Apple and Google – have completely and utterly destroyed the concept of passkeys. The basic gist is that Apple and Google were more interested in control and locking in users than in providing a user-friendly passwordless future, and in doing so have made passkeys effectively a worse user experience than just using passwords in a password manager. Since then Passkeys are now seen as a way to capture users and audiences into a platform. What better way to encourage long term entrapment of users then by locking all their credentials into your platform, and even better, credentials that can’t be extracted or exported in any capacity. Both Chrome and Safari will try to force you into using either hybrid (caBLE) where you scan a QR code with your phone to authenticate – you have to click through menus to use a security key. caBLE is not even a good experience, taking more than 60 seconds work in most cases. The UI is beyond obnoxious at this point. Sometimes I think the password game has a better ux. The more egregious offender is Android, which won’t even activate your security key if the website sends the set of options that are needed for Passkeys. This means the IDP gets to choose what device you enroll without your input. And of course, all the developer examples only show you the options to activate “Google Passkeys stored in Google Password Manager”. After all, why would you want to use anything else? ↫ William Brown The whole post is a sobering read of how a dream of passwordless, and even usernameless, authentication was right within our grasp, usable by everyone, until Apple and Google got involved and enshittified the standards and tools to promote lock-in and their own interests above the user experience. If even someone as knowledgeable about this subject as Brown, who writes actual software to make these things work, is advising against using passkeys, you know something’s gone horribly wrong. I also looked into possibly using passkeys, including using things like a Yubikey, but the process seems so complex and unpleasant that I, too, concluded just sticking to Bitwarden and my favourite open source TFA application was a far superior user experience.
Supported transfer service from Taylor & Francis journals to PeerJ up and running
date: 2024-04-26, from: PeerJ blog
Since our announcement last month that we were joining Taylor & Francis, we’ve been hard at work with the T&F team to implement author service integrations and improvements. The first of those – a supported service allowing authors to transfer to PeerJ – is already up and running. T&F’s Transfer Team are a specialist group […]
Gogoro battery-swapping electric scooters continue international expansion
date: 2024-04-26, from: Electrek Feed
Gogoro has been on a roll lately, showing off a steady stream of new scooter models and simultaneously expanding its markets into new countries. Now, the battery-swapping electric scooter leader is adding another pin to the map: Nepal.
UK agriculture department slammed for paper pushing despite tech splurges
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Defra is counting contractors like sheep
The UK agriculture department is “working towards” getting consultant and contractor numbers down to less than a quarter of its tech and digital transformation teams and reducing contingent labor to 12 percent of headcount by the end of the financial year.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/defra_pac_legacy_tech/
Gentoo bans use of “AI” tools
date: 2024-04-26, from: OS News
Gentoo, the venerable Linux distribution which in my headcanon I describe as ‘classy’, has banned any use of “AI”. A proposal by Gentoo Council member Michał Górny from February of this year banning its use has been unanimously accepted by the Gentoo Council. The new policy reads: It is expressly forbidden to contribute to Gentoo any content that has been created with the assistance of Natural Language Processing artificial intelligence tools. This motion can be revisited, should a case been made over such a tool that does not pose copyright, ethical and quality concerns. ↫ Michał Górny We’ll have to see how this policy will be implemented, but I like that Gentoo is willing to take a stand.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139444/gentoo-bands-use-of-ai-tools/
DPS turned peaceful protest violent, organizers say, as they vow to continue demonstrating
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
In the group’s first public address since the beginning of the occupation, they condemned the actions of Department of Public Safety and Los Angeles Police Department officers and affirmed that they will continue to speak out in support of Palestine.
The post DPS turned peaceful protest violent, organizers say, as they vow to continue demonstrating appeared first on Daily Trojan.
The Supreme Court’s Farce and Ruse
date: 2024-04-26, from: Robert Reich on Substack
And Michael Johnson’s absurd demand
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-supreme-courts-farce-and-ruse
Columbia University drops deadline for dismantling pro-Palestinian protest camp
date: 2024-04-26, from: VOA News USA
New York — Columbia University backed off late Thursday from an overnight deadline for pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon an encampment there as more college campuses in the United States sought to prevent occupations from taking hold.
Police have carried out large-scale arrests in universities across the country, at times using chemical irritants and tasers to disperse protests over Israel’s war with Hamas.
The office of New York-based Columbia University President Minouche Shafik issued a statement at 11:07 p.m. (0307 GMT Friday) retreating from a midnight deadline to dismantle a large tent camp with around 200 students.
“The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned,” the statement said. “We have our demands; they have theirs.”
The statement denied that New York City police were invited on the campus. “This rumor is false,” it said.
A student, identifying herself only as Mimi, told AFP she had been at the camp for seven days.
“They call us terrorists, they call us violent. But the only tool we actually have are our voices,” she said.
Student protesters say they are expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll has topped 34,305, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
More than 200 people protesting the war were arrested Wednesday and early Thursday at universities in Los Angeles, Boston and Austin, Texas, where around 2,000 people gathered again Thursday.
Riot officers in the southern state of Georgia used chemical irritants and tasers to disperse protests at Emory University in Atlanta.
Photographs showed police wielding tasers as they wrestled with protesters on neatly manicured lawns.
The Atlanta Police Department said officers responding to the school’s request for help were “met with violence” and used “chemical irritants” in their response.
The spreading protests began at Columbia University, which has remained the epicenter of the student protest movement.
Free speech?
The protests pose a major challenge to university administrators who are trying to balance campus commitments to free expression with complaints that the rallies have crossed a line.
Pro-Israel supporters and others worried about campus safety have pointed to antisemitic incidents and allege that campuses are encouraging intimidation and hate speech.
“I’ve never felt more scared to be a Jew in America right now,” said Skyler Sieradsky, a 21-year-old student of philosophy and political science at George Washington University.
“There are students and faculty standing by messages of hate, and standing by messages that call for violence.”
Demonstrators, who include a number of Jewish students, have disavowed antisemitism and criticized officials equating it with opposition to Israel.
“People are here in support of Palestinian people from all different backgrounds… (compelled by) their general sense of justice,” a 33-year-old graduate student at the University of Texas, Austin, who said he was Jewish and gave his name as Josh, told AFP.
U.S. ally Israel launched its war in Gaza after the Hamas attack on October 7 that left around 1,170 people dead, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Hamas militants also took roughly 250 people hostage. Israel estimates 129 remain in Gaza, including 34 presumed dead.
Coast to coast
At the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, 93 people were arrested for trespassing on Wednesday, authorities said they were canceling events at the May 10 graduation ceremony.
The ceremony, which usually attracts 65,000 people, made headlines this month when administrators canceled a planned speech by a top student after complaints from Jewish groups that she had links to antisemitic groups. She denied the charge.
At Emerson College in Boston, local media reported classes were canceled Thursday after police clashed with protesters overnight, tearing down a pro-Palestinian encampment and arresting 108 people.
In Washington, students from Georgetown and George Washington University (GW) established a solidarity encampment on the GW campus Thursday.
Protests and encampments have also sprung up at New York University and Yale – both of which also saw dozens of students arrested earlier this week – Harvard, Brown University, MIT, the University of Michigan and elsewhere.
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt said its campus could remain closed into next week due to protesters occupying buildings.
On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden denounced “blatant antisemitism” that has “no place on college campuses.”
But the White House has also said the president supports freedom of expression at U.S. universities.
Open- source braille embosser | HackSpace #78
date: 2024-04-26, from: Raspberry Pi News (.com)
In the latest issue of HackSpace magazine, out now, Andrew Gregory finds out how Stéphane Godin made an open-source braille embosser.
The post Open- source braille embosser | HackSpace #78 appeared first on Raspberry Pi.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/open-source-braille-embosser-hackspace-78/
Help! My mouse climbed a wall and now it doesn’t work right
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Support chap learns users will try to solve problems in non-obvious ways
On Call As another week drains down the plughole of history, it’s time for The Register to once again deliver a fresh instalment of On Call – our weekly reader-contributed tale of tech support torments and triumphs.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/on_call/
April 25, 2024
date: 2024-04-26, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
“I am in shock that a lawyer stood in the U.S. Supreme Court and said that a president could assassinate his political opponent and it would be immune as ‘an official act,’” lawyer Marc Elias, whose firm defends democratic election laws, wrote today on social media. He added: “I am in despair that several Justices seemed to think this answer made perfect sense.”
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-25-2024
Today in SCV History (April 26)
date: 2024-04-26, from: SCV New (TV Station)
1906 – Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in the Philippines. [story
https://scvnews.com/today-in-scv-history-april-26/
We cannot trust you, Provost Guzman and President Folt
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
An open letter from Annenberg professor Mike Ananny to Provost Andrew Guzman and President Carol Folt.
The post We cannot trust you, Provost Guzman and President Folt appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/we-cannot-trust-you-provost-guzman-and-president-folt/
‘They took away everything’: USC cancels main commencement
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
In a decision graduating students and faculty called “frustrating” and “disappointing,” USC will not hold a general commencement ceremony in May, citing “new safety measures.”
The post ‘They took away everything’: USC cancels main commencement appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/they-took-away-everything-usc-cancels-main-commencement/
Caleb Williams selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The Heisman winner will embark on his next chapter in the Windy City
The post Caleb Williams selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/caleb-williams-selected-no-1-overall-by-the-chicago-bears/
VMware’s end-user compute community told to brace for ‘Omnissa’ shift
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Cloudy hosts given short license change deadlines, customers warned of support portal brownouts
VMware by Broadcom’s breakup with its end-user compute products will enter a new phase next week, with cloudy service providers and customers both warned of imminent changes.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/omnissa_vmware_euc_changes_coming/
Webcurios 26/04/24
date: 2024-04-26, from: Web Curios blog
Reading Time: 39 minutes Look, I probably ought to warn you upfront that I appear to have suffered a particularly violent attack of logorrhoea this morning and have somehow managed to break the 11k word barrier – this is your chance to just quietly delete this email/close this tab and get on with doing something better and more productive…https://webcurios.co.uk/webcurios-26-04-24/
Boys Volleyball Playoffs Roundup: San Marcos Cruises to First Round Sweep of El Segundo
date: 2024-04-26, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Jack Wilson led the way for San Marcos with 17 kills.
The post Boys Volleyball Playoffs Roundup: San Marcos Cruises to First Round Sweep of El Segundo appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Flaws in Chinese keyboard apps leave 750 million users open to snooping, researchers claim
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Huawei is OK, but Xiaomi, OPPO, and Samsung are in strife. And Honor isn’t living its name
Many Chinese keyboard apps, some from major handset manufacturers, can leak keystrokes to determined snoopers, leaving perhaps three quarters of a billion people at risk according to research from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/pinyin_keyboard_security_risks/
Ukraine pulls US-provided Abrams tanks from front lines over Russian drone threats
date: 2024-04-26, from: VOA News USA
WASHINGTON — Ukraine has sidelined U.S.-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, two U.S. military officials told The Associated Press.
The U.S. agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023 after an aggressive monthslong campaign by Kyiv arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10 million apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.
But the battlefield has changed substantially since then, notably by the ubiquitous use of Russian surveillance drones and hunter-killer drones. Those weapons have made it more difficult for Ukraine to protect the tanks when they are quickly detected and hunted by Russian drones or rounds.
Five of the 31 tanks have already been lost to Russian attacks.
The proliferation of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield means “there isn’t open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection,” a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide an update on U.S. weapons support for Ukraine before Friday’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.
For now, the tanks have been moved from the front lines, and the U.S. will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics, said Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady and a third defense official who confirmed the move on the condition of anonymity.
“When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armor in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk,” Grady told the AP in an interview this week, adding that tanks are still important.
“Now, there is a way to do it,” he said. “We’ll work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately.”
News of the sidelined tanks comes as the U.S. marks the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries that meets monthly to assess Ukraine’s battlefield needs and identify where to find needed ammunition, weapons or maintenance to keep Ukraine’s troops equipped.
Recent aid packages, including the $1 billion military assistance package signed by President Joe Biden on Wednesday, also reflect a wider reset for Ukrainian forces in the evolving fight.
The U.S. is expected to announce Friday that it also will provide about $6 billion in long-term military aid to Ukraine, U.S. officials said, adding that it will include much sought after munitions for Patriot air defense systems. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.
The $1 billion package emphasized counter-drone capabilities, including .50-caliber rounds specifically modified to counter drone systems; additional air defenses and ammunition; and a host of alternative, and cheaper, vehicles, including Humvees, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles.
The U.S. also confirmed for the first time that it is providing long-range ballistic missiles known as ATACMs, which allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian-occupied areas without having to advance and be further exposed to either drone detection or fortified Russian defenses.
While drones are a significant threat, the Ukrainians also have not adopted tactics that could have made the tanks more effective, one of the U.S. defense officials said.
After announcing it would provide Ukraine the Abrams tanks in January 2023, the U.S. began training Ukrainians at Grafenwoehr Army base in Germany that spring on how to maintain and operate them. They also taught the Ukrainians how to use them in combined arms warfare — where the tanks operate as part of a system of advancing armored forces, coordinating movements with overhead offensive fires, infantry troops and air assets.
As the spring progressed and Ukraine’s highly anticipated counteroffensive stalled, shifting from tank training in Germany to getting Abrams on the battlefield was seen as an imperative to breach fortified Russian lines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on his Telegram channel in September that the Abrams had arrived in Ukraine.
Since then, however, Ukraine has only employed them in a limited fashion and has not made combined arms warfare part of its operations, the defense official said.
During its recent withdrawal from Avdiivka, a city in eastern Ukraine that was the focus of intense fighting for months, several tanks were lost to Russian attacks, the official said.
A long delay by Congress in passing new funding for Ukraine meant its forces had to ration ammunition, and in some cases they were only able to shoot back once for every five or more times they were targeted by Russian forces.
In Avdiivka, Ukrainian forces were badly outgunned and fighting back against Russian glide bombs and hunter-killer drones with whatever ammunition they had left.
Daily Ev Recap: Ultra-fast charging adds 370 miles of range in 10 minutes
date: 2024-04-26, 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…
Deputies: Baby transported to Henry Mayo after being found not breathing
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Signal
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies escorted Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital on Thursday evening following reports of a baby found not breathing, according to Deputy Robert Jensen, spokesman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station. Deputies were dispatched to the 24000 block of Lyons Avenue at approximately 7:27 p.m. on […]
The post Deputies: Baby transported to Henry Mayo after being found not breathing appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
Hart lacrosse wins first league title, beats West Ranch
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Signal
A single goal separated Hart Indians boys’ lacrosse from its first-ever Foothill League championship. Midway through the fourth quarter, all tied up, Hart found its answer as senior Tate Fuller drove in hard and found junior Blake Osoria, who hit the quick-turnaround, league-clinching goal. Hart held on to its one-goal lead until the close and […]
The post Hart lacrosse wins first league title, beats West Ranch appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/hart-lacrosse-wins-first-league-title-beats-west-ranch/
Atlassian loses half its CEOs, but customers stay solid after Server products exit support
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Discloses ongoing experiments with usage-based pricing
Atlassian co-founder and co-CEO Scott Farquhar has announced he will step down in August, leaving Mike Cannon-Brookes alone at the top of the Australian collaborationware company.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/atlassian_q3_2204/
China skips red-carpet welcome for Blinken, whose visit prompts cynicism
date: 2024-04-26, from: VOA News USA
washington — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s arrival in China on Wednesday has been met with skepticism, cynicism and suggestions that the absence of a red carpet for the top U.S. diplomat’s arrival was a not-so-subtle message from Beijing.
Blinken kicked off his three-day visit to China in Shanghai with online commenters and analysts noting China had omitted the usual practice of laying out a red carpet for a distinguished visitor.
Posting on X, Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief of Chinese state media Global Times, said, “Blinken has arrived in Shanghai, China. Many people noticed when he stepped off the plane that there seemed to be no red carpet on the ground. His China visit should be seen as an ‘imploring’ one, although the U.S. made some tough public opinion preparations in advance.”
Gordon Chang, a distinguished senior fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute think tank, responded to Hu Xijin’s post, “#China, before #Blinken even stepped off his plane in #Shanghai today, insulted him.”
An X user under the name Lord Bebo, who claims to be anti-mainstream media, posted, “Blinken arrives in China and is met WITHOUT RED CARPET. No band or anything … he’s welcomed like a somebody unimportant.” His post received more than 10,000 likes.
U.S.-China relations have eased since the two sides resumed high-level contacts, but many differences remain.
Before Blinken’s visit, U.S. media reported that the U.S. discussed sanctioning some Chinese banks to counter their support for Russia. Blinken also stated in releasing the State Department’s 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices that the Uyghurs in Xinjiang are victims of genocide and crimes against humanity.
He arrived in China the same day President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that includes Taiwan military aid and pushes TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations.
“What an awkward moment for Blinken as he lands in China,” Canadian geopolitics expert Abishur Prakash said. “The U.S. is full-steam ahead on taking on China, led by the bills around TikTok, Taiwan and support nations in the Indo-Pacific against Beijing.”
‘Face-to-face diplomacy matters’
On his day of arrival, Blinken posted a video speech against a backdrop of Shanghai’s iconic buildings, such as the neon-lit Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center.
“We just arrived here in Shanghai in the People’s Republic of China to work on issues that matter to the American people,” he said in the video. “One of those is fentanyl, synthetic opioids, the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 49.
“President [Joe] Biden, President Xi [Jinping], when they met in San Francisco at the end of last year, agreed to cooperate to help prevent fentanyl and the ingredients that make it from getting to the United States. We will be working on that.”
Blinken said he would be talking not only to his counterparts in the Chinese government, but also to students, academics, business leaders and “the people who are building bridges and ties between our countries.
“And of course, we will be dealing with areas where we have real differences with China, dealing with them directly, communicating clearly. Face-to-face diplomacy matters,” he said. “It’s important to avoid miscommunications, misperceptions, and to advance the interests of the American people.”
Reaction takes anti-American tone
On Chinese social media, Blinken’s overtures were met with cynicism.
On Weibo, China’s largest social platform, Blinken’s second visit to China had limited coverage, and the discussion was dominated by an anti-American tone.
A Weibo user under the name of Xiao Fan Hao She argued that the United States has not officially listed all fentanyl-like substances on the control list.
“We ask whether the United States believes that it can solve the domestic problems in the United States by shifting the blame externally, shirking responsibility, and smearing China’s image,” she wrote.
A Weibo user under the name of An Hao Xin said, “Coming with him is also the bargaining chip of ‘bank sanctions.’ To be honest, if you want to kick SWIFT out, just do it quickly. Why are you hesitating?”
Another commenter said, “If you dare to overturn the table, then we just aid Russia with weapons and see who suffers.”
Kenneth Roth, a former executive director of Human Rights Watch and visiting professor at Princeton University, linked the visit to U.S. Middle East policy, saying on X that Blinken “would have an easier time telling the Chinese government not to provide military supplies to Russia as it commits war crimes in Ukraine if the U.S. government were not arming Israel as it commits war crimes in Gaza.”
But Roth also said, “It will be shameful if Blinken is so determined to make nice to Beijing that he doesn’t publicly mention its crimes against humanity targeting Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.”
Jonathan Cheng, the China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, said on X, “Unnamed Chinese official to Blinken: ‘Perception is always the first button that must be put right. Whether China and the United States are rivals or partners is a fundamental issue, on which there must not be any catastrophic mistake.’”
Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
https://www.voanews.com/a/blinken-s-china-visit-garners-skepticism-cynicism-online-/7585825.html
Intel excited by PC sales pop and GPU prospects, but investors aren’t because the outlook is poor
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Chipzilla’s Foundry business weighs down the Gelsinger gang - for now
Intel has reported double-digit growth in client computing revenue, growing demand for AI PCs, and promised of strong gains in the second half of 2024 – but also reported a first quarter loss that sent the chip biz’s stock sliding in after-hours trading Thursday.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/intel_q1_2024/
Saugus school district teachers demonstrate, demand salary increases
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Signal
Teachers within the Saugus Union School District demonstrated their desire for a salary increase at Tuesday’s governing board meeting ahead of the union’s contract expiring in June. According to Saugus Teachers Association President Carleen Shute, the union has asked for salary increases of 7.5% in November before dropping that demand down to 3% in its […]
The post <strong>Saugus school district teachers demonstrate, demand salary increases</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/saugus-school-district-teachers-demonstrate-demand-salary-increases/
Cleanliness at Sulphur Springs district schools to be evaluated
date: 2024-04-26, from: The Signal
School cleanliness was the biggest issue that Sulphur Springs Union School District students cited in a survey sent out by the district to help create the 2024-25 local control and accountability plan. The survey, conducted in March, saw 58 transitional kindergarten and first-grade classes submit responses as well as 3,590 individual responses from students in […]
The post <strong>Cleanliness at Sulphur Springs district schools to be evaluated</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/cleanliness-at-sulphur-springs-district-schools-to-be-evaluated/
What’s up with Alphabet and Microsoft lately? Profits, sales – and AI costs
date: 2024-04-26, updated: 2024-04-26, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
If ML proves an expensive habit in future, these money printers won’t have much to worry about … probably
Alphabet and Microsoft’s stock prices jumped in after-hours trading today after the AI-infatuated businesses delivered higher-than-anticipated quarterly earnings.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/alphabet_microsoft_quarterly_results/
Taller público para revisar los diseños conceptuales para el emplazamiento de la Casa Franceschi
date: 2024-04-26, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 24 de abril de 2024 El Departamento de Parques y Actividades Recreativas de la Ciudad de
The post Taller público para revisar los diseños conceptuales para el emplazamiento de la Casa Franceschi appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
This year’s call for expressions of interest to join our board
date: 2024-04-26, from: Crossref Blog
The Crossref Nominating Committee is inviting expressions of interest to join the Board of Directors of Crossref for the term starting in January 2025. The committee will gather responses from those interested and create the slate of candidates that our membership will vote on in an election in September.
Expressions of interest will be due Monday, May 27th, 2024
This is an exciting time to join the board, as we have a number of active projects underway: We are considering resourcing Crossref for a sustainable future and board members will be part of deciding any changes to our fees scheme and overseeing its implementation. We’re focusing on how our community and metadata can contribute to ensuring the integrity of the scholarly record. We’re broadening our metadata record to capture richer funding and institutional affiliations. We’re working towards a future where the scholarly record prioritizes relationships between research outputs to build a holistic research nexus. The board helps guide this work.
About the board elections
The board is elected through the “one member, one vote” policy wherein every member organization of Crossref has a single vote to elect representatives to the Crossref board. Board terms are for three years, and this year, there are four seats open for election.
The board maintains a balance of seats, with eight seats for smaller members and eight seats for larger members (based on total revenue to Crossref). This is an effort to ensure that the scholarly community’s diversity of experiences and perspectives is represented in decisions made at Crossref.
This year, we will elect two of the larger member seats (membership tiers $3,900 and above) and two of the smaller member seats (membership tiers $1,650 and below). You don’t need to specify which seat you are applying for; we will provide that information to the nominating committee.
The online election will open in September, with results announced at the annual meeting on October 29th, 2024. New members will begin their term in January 2025.
About the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee reviews the expressions of interest and selects a slate of candidates for election. The slate put forward will exceed the total number of open seats. The committee considers the statements of interest, organizational size, geography, and experience.
2024 Nominating Committee
- James Phillpotts*, Director of Content Transformation and Standards, Oxford University Press, committee chair
- Oscar Donde*, Editor in Chief, Pan Africa Science Journal
- Rose L’Huillier*, Senior Vice President Researcher Products, Elsevier
- Ivy Mutambanengwe-Matanga, Chief Operating Officer, African Journals Online
- Adam Sewell, Chief Technology Officer, IOP Publishing
(*) indicates Crossref board member
What is the committee looking for this year
The committee looks for skills and experience that will complement the rest of the board. Candidates from countries and regions not currently reflected on the board are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful candidates often have some or all of these characteristics:
- Demonstrate a commitment to or understanding of our strategic agenda or the Principles of Open Scholarly Infrastructure;
- Have expertise that may be underrepresented on the board currently;
- Hold senior/director-level positions in their organizations;
- Have experience with governance or community involvement;
- Represent member organizations that are active in the scholarly communications ecosystem;
- Demonstrate metadata best practices as shown in the member’s participation report
The board is also encouraging Crossref members who are research funders to apply.
Board roles and responsibilities
Crossref’s services provide a central infrastructure for scholarly communications. Crossref’s board helps shape the future of our services and by extension, impacts the broader scholarly ecosystem. We are looking for board members to contribute their experience and perspective.
The role of the board at Crossref is to provide strategic and financial oversight of the organization, as well as guidance to the Executive Director and the staff leadership team, with the key responsibilities being:
- Setting the strategic direction for the organization;
- Providing financial oversight; and
- Approving new policies and services.
The board is representative of our membership base and guides the staff leadership team on trends affecting scholarly communications. The board sets strategic directions for the organization while also providing oversight into policy changes and implementation. Board members have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure sound operations. They do this by attending board meetings as well as joining more specific board committees.
Who can apply to join the board?
Any active member of Crossref can apply to join the board. Crossref membership is open to organizations that produce content, such as academic presses, commercial publishers, standards organizations, and research funders.
What is expected of board members?
Board members attend four meetings each year that typically take place in January, March, July, and November. Meetings have taken place in a variety of international locations and travel support is provided when needed. January, March, and November board meetings are held virtually, and all committee meetings take place virtually. Each board member should sit on at least one Crossref committee. Care is taken to accommodate the wide range of time zones in which our board members live.
While the expressions of interest are specific to an individual, the seat that is elected to the board belongs to the member organization. The primary board member also names an alternate who may attend meetings in the event that the primary board member is unable to. There is no personal financial obligation to sit on the board. The member organization must remain in good standing.
Board members are expected to be comfortable assuming the responsibilities listed above and to prepare and participate in board meeting discussions.
How to apply
Please click here to submit your expression of interest. We ask for a brief statement about how your organization could enhance the our board and a brief personal statement about your interest and experience with Crossref.
Please contact me with any questions at lofiesh@crossref.org
https://www.crossref.org/blog/this-years-call-for-expressions-of-interest-to-join-our-board/
CloudNativePG 1.23.0, 1.22.3 and 1.21.5 Released!
date: 2024-04-26, from: PostgreSQL News
The CloudNativePG Community is excited to announce the release of version 1.23.0 of the CloudNativePG Operator!
This release brings a host of new features and enhancements, including support for PostgreSQL image catalogs, synchronization of user-defined replication slots, and Pod Disruption Budget (PDB) configuration.
We’ve revised our Community support to enhance our focus and optimize resources. The supported versions will be the last minor, plus the previous minor, which will be supported for three months once the new minor is out. This is in effect adding two more months of support to the outgoing minor over what we used to have.
What’s New in 1.23
PostgreSQL Image Catalogs
Say goodbye to PostgreSQL version management headaches! With image
catalogs based on major versions, managing your database fleet has never
been easier. Simply request the PostgreSQL major version you need and
control how your databases stay up-to-date. We’ve introduced two new
resources (ClusterImageCatalog and
ImageCatalog) and a new stanza
(spec.imageCatalogRef), setting the stage for simpler
management of default images. The Community will provide catalogs, and
you could also use third-party ones, or even build your own.
Synchronization of User-Defined Replication Slots
Ensure seamless failover with extended physical replication slot synchronization, now covering persistence of user-defined slots after failover.
Pod Disruption Budget (PDB) Configuration
Customize PDB settings with the new .spec.enablePDB field.
Disable PDBs on primary instances for single-instance deployments,
ensuring smooth pod eviction during maintenance operations. This marks
our first step towards deprecating the node maintenance window feature.
Upgrade and Maintenance
Before upgrading, carefully review the detailed instructions. New patch releases are now available for all supported versions, including 1.22.3 and 1.21.5.
We recommend upgrading to CloudNativePG 1.23.0 at your earliest convenience. Alternatively, update to the latest patch version within your current minor release.
End of Life Announcement
With the release of 1.23.0, the 1.21.x minor version will reach its end of life on May 24, 2024. Plan your upgrade to ensure continued support and security.
Join the Community
Become a valued member of our expanding open-source, vendor-neutral, and openly governed Community! Engage with fellow users, exchange insights, and receive support! Join our Slack channel and follow us on X (Twitter) to stay informed about the latest news and announcements.
Release Notes
For a comprehensive list of changes and bug fixes, check out the release notes for:
Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement with CloudNativePG! Upgrade today and unlock the full potential of your PostgreSQL deployments.
About CloudNativePG
CloudNativePG stands as a groundbreaking open-source Kubernetes Operator designed explicitly for PostgreSQL workloads. Seamlessly orchestrating the entire life cycle of a PostgreSQL cluster, CloudNativePG takes charge from bootstrapping and configuration to ensuring high availability, connection routing, and comprehensive backup and disaster recovery mechanisms. Leveraging PostgreSQL’s native streaming replication, CloudNativePG efficiently distributes data across pods, nodes, and zones, utilizing standard Kubernetes patterns. This enables seamless scaling of replicas in a Kubernetes-native manner, with the operator autonomously and safely reconfiguring replication as needed. Originally conceived and supported by EDB, CloudNativePG represents a paradigm shift in managing PostgreSQL workloads within Kubernetes environments.
https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/cloudnativepg-1230-1223-and-1215-released-2849/
Public Workshop to Review Concept Designs for Site of Franceschi House
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
SANTA BARBARA, CA – April 24, 2024 The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public input
The post Public Workshop to Review Concept Designs for Site of Franceschi House appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
USC cancels main stage commencement
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
The University also said it would introduce a number of safety measures as attendees join the remaining satellite commencements and miscellaneous ceremonies.
The post USC cancels main stage commencement appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/usc-cancels-main-stage-commencement/
Court records indicate drug motive in mobile home park shooting
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
Recently unsealed court records offered a glimpse into the events surrounding a June 1 shooting and how investigators can try to piece together what happened with cell phone records when those involved aren’t cooperating. The victim was a passenger in a black Chevrolet truck near an entrance to Mulberry Mobile Home Park in the 25000 […]
The post <strong>Court records indicate drug motive in mobile home park shooting </strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/court-records-indicate-drug-motive-in-mobile-home-park-shooting/
Santa Barbara Man Pleads Guilty to Two Murders in 2021 DUI Crash
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Andrew Raymond Burgher, 34, faces 15 years to life for killing Gilberto Arteaga-Gutierrez of Santa Barbara and Silvia Velasco of Lompoc in a collision on Cathedral Oaks Road.
The post Santa Barbara Man Pleads Guilty to Two Murders in 2021 DUI Crash appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Watch the world’s first artificial energy island being built [video]
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
The first of 23 caissons for Princess Elisabeth Island, the world’s first artificial energy island, is nearly complete.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/watch-the-worlds-first-artificial-energy-island-being-built-video/
South Fork Trail Construction to Begin April 29
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Starting Monday, April 29, construction on the South Fork Trail will begin to replace a portion of the lodgepole fencing, the city of Santa Clarita announced
https://scvnews.com/south-fork-trail-construction-to-begin-april-29/
Israel-Gaza war protests spread to more universities across US
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/anti-gaza-war-protests-spread-to-universities-across-us-/7585423.html
Amazon to blow $11B on cluster of Indiana bit barns
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Talk about going round the (South) Bend
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is adding $11 billion of datacenter capacity in St Joseph County outside South Bend, Indiana, the cloud giant announced Thursday.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/aws_indiana_ai/
Lilbits: Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4S now comes with up to 8GB RAM, modular laptop maker Framework to expand into new categories
date: 2024-04-25, from: Liliputing
The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4S is a SODIMM-style version of the Compute Module 4. It has the same processor as the standard model, but the form factor restricts the I/O capabilities, so it’s not quite as versatile. And when it first launched in 2022, the Raspberry PI CM4S was only available with 1GB of […]
The post Lilbits: Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4S now comes with up to 8GB RAM, modular laptop maker Framework to expand into new categories appeared first on Liliputing.
COC Standout Sam Regez Signs with University of Portland
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
College of the Canyons dual-sport athlete Sam Regez will continue his career at University of Portland with plans to run on both the cross country and track and field programs
https://scvnews.com/coc-standout-sam-regez-signs-with-university-of-portland/
Air Quality Data for the Rich
date: 2024-04-25, from: Heatmap News
Everyone loves a public good, and one of the classic examples is clean air. When I breathe in clean air, no one else gets any less of it, and you can’t exclude people from enjoying it.
But how do we know whether the air we’re breathing is clean? And is that information a public good?
A team of economists from universities across the U.S. published some
answers to those questions this week in a
working
paper via the National Bureau of Economic Research.
As their research subject, the economists looked at PurpleAir, which promises more localized and frequently updated air quality readings beyond what the Environmental Protection Agency can provide. Once purchased (for a price of $229 to $339, depending on the model) and installed, the censors report their air quality readings to a map that anyone can access. The company’s sales took off in 2020 after the epochal wildfires up and down the West Coast.
The study considered air quality readings from PurpleAir monitors in California from 2019 to 2021, including the fires and the consumer response to them. Then the researchers matched those readings with census tracts and the demographic information associated with them.
What they found is that PurpleAir monitors tend to be “clustered” within certain geographic areas, and that those geographic areas tend to be wealthier. Not surprisingly, pricey air monitors have a customer base demographically similar to that of other gadgets bought by early adopters. In other words, PurpleAir monitors’ locations don’t so much track pollution levels as demographics.
On Thursday afternoon, the PurpleAir map showed 15 outdoor sensors in and around Bakersfield, California, a majority Hispanic city of 400,000 people in California’s Central Valley that the American Lung Association ranks as either the most or the third most polluted American city, depending on the metric. There were 13 active, meanwhile, in the famously ritzy San Francisco neighborhood of Pacific Heights, with a population of around 20,000. (We reached out for comment to both the researchers and PurpleAir but hadn’t gotten a response from either as of press time.)
Of course, the relationship between income and pollution is not random — quite the opposite. On the global and national levels, there is an inverse relationship between air pollution and income, with people in low income areas more exposed to harmful pollution.
While the economists called their finding “unsurprising,” they also said it raised the concern that the monitors “may actually increase health inequalities” by allowing people in better-covered areas to “improve their health through avoidance behavior,” thus making it so “the benefit from these monitors are more likely to accrue to the higher income individuals that adopted them.” Since PurpleAir monitors “are more present in less polluted areas,” the data they collect has less “social value … since the places that would benefit the most from information that could encourage pollution avoidance behavior are precisely the ones least likely to have this information.”
This means that “in areas where pollution is the highest, and thus avoidance behaviors are potentially the most effective, people have less knowledge of their pollution levels, even when conditioning on income and education.”
The researchers found similar correlations of PurpleAir monitor usage and race, with “monitor adoption … lowest in areas with a higher share of Black or Hispanic populations.”
These findings also mean that the people spending money to learn about the air quality where they live are also getting very little value from their monitors, as they are both less likely to live in a heavily polluted area and more likely to be well served by existing air monitors. In the slightly bloodless language of academic economics, the authors wrote, “Technophiles may purchase monitors for reasons that are quasi-independent from the value of information that the monitor provides, including a competitive desire to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ and thus drive high levels of spatial correlation in monitor adoption.” If people are getting PurpleAir monitors because their neighbors are, it’s probably a sign that they don’t need one.
For the public to truly realize the promise of more particularized and
frequently updated public health data, collection can’t merely be left
up to the vagaries and patterns of the consumer electronics market. An
“optimal” policy, according to the researchers, “will require
supplemental provision of monitors where the private market falls short”
— or to put it more bluntly, government action. Public health will have
to be public.
https://heatmap.news/sparks/purpleair-air-quality-california-study
Transforming Lives: Housing Authority’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara offers priceless guidance with the five-year self-sufficiency program.
The post Transforming Lives: Housing Authority’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Goleta’s City Council Race Is off to an Early Start
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Mayor Paula Perotte announces she’s running for reelection against challenger Rich Foster in this November’s election, when city council seats in districts 3 and 4 will also be on the ballot.
The post Goleta’s City Council Race Is off to an Early Start appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/25/goletas-city-council-race-is-off-to-an-early-start/
Slimbook Fedora 2 brings processor, memory, and graphics upgrades to this Linux laptop
date: 2024-04-25, from: Liliputing
The Fedora Slimbook 2 is a thin and light Linux laptop that comes with a choice of 14 inch or 16 inch displays. It’s the follow-up to last year’s first-gen Fedora Slimbook, and the new model brings several significant upgrades, as well as a few new options. Whether you opt for a 14 or 16 inch […]
The post Slimbook Fedora 2 brings processor, memory, and graphics upgrades to this Linux laptop appeared first on Liliputing.
‘Santa Barbara News-Press’ Bankruptcy Limps Along
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Wendy McCaw’s ownership of buildings is at issue, including the bankruptcy court.
The post ‘Santa Barbara News-Press’ Bankruptcy Limps Along appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/25/santa-barbara-news-press-bankruptcy-limps-along/
Feeding the Artist Drive
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Our Indy intern Chloe Shanfeld has helped us explore the art and culture world of Santa Barbara, diving into local
The post Feeding the Artist Drive appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/04/25/feeding-the-artist-drive/
Cops cuff man for allegedly framing colleague with AI-generated hate speech clip
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Athletics boss accused of deep-faking Baltimore school principal
Baltimore police have arrested Dazhon Leslie Darien, the former athletic director of Pikesville High School (PHS), for allegedly impersonating the school’s principal using AI software to make it seem as if he made racist and antisemitic remarks.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/ai_voice_arrest/
Honda joins EV race with historic $11B investment to build 240K EVs a year
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
Honda is finally joining the EV race after announcing a massive $11 billion (CAD$15 billion) investment to build four new EV plants in Canada. The historic investment will be used to build Canada’s first EV supply chain, enabling 240,000 Honda EVs to be made for the US and Canada annually.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/honda-build-240k-evs-year-historic-11b-investment/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Why Meta is looking to the fediverse as the future for social media.
FTC Bans Noncompetes
date: 2024-04-25, from: Michael Tsai
FTC (tweet, Hacker News): Today, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule to promote competition by banning noncompetes nationwide, protecting the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increasing innovation, and fostering new business formation. […] The FTC estimates that the final rule banning noncompetes will lead to new business formation growing by 2.7% […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/04/25/ftc-bans-noncompetes/
FCC Reinstates Network Neutrality
date: 2024-04-25, from: Michael Tsai
Jon Brodkin (Hacker News, Slashdot): The Federal Communications Commission voted 3–2 to impose net neutrality rules today, restoring the common-carrier regulatory framework enforced during the Obama era and then abandoned while Trump was president.The rules prohibit Internet service providers from blocking and throttling lawful content and ban paid prioritization.[…]The court battle against the FCC will […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/04/25/fcc-reinstates-network-neutrality/
Alexa Copyright Violations
date: 2024-04-25, from: Michael Tsai
Lindsay Clark (via Hacker News): According to Ghaderi’s account in the complaint, she returned to work after giving birth in January 2023, inheriting a large language model project. Part of her role was flagging violations of Amazon’s internal copyright policies and escalating these concerns to the in-house legal team. In March 2023, the filing claims, […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/04/25/alexa-copyright-violations/
‘Changing Lenses’ Initiative Lends Voice to CSUN Film, TV Students
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
An entertainment industry initiative to support the voices of California State University, Northridge film and TV students was celebrated with a recent screening of stories they created.
https://scvnews.com/changing-lenses-initiative-lends-voice-to-csun-film-tv-students/
Ring dinged for $5.6M after, among other claims, rogue insider spied on ‘pretty girls’
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Cash to go out as refunds to punters
The FTC today announced it would be sending refunds totaling $5.6 million to Ring customers, paid from the Amazon subsidiary’s coffers.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/ring_ftc_settlement/
US official announces business partnership with Kenya
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
nairobi, kenya — About 1,300 delegates and 400 companies participated in the fourth American Chamber of Commerce summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where Kenya’s president William Ruto says his country is ready for business — and means business.
“The 2024 summit’s theme — catalyzing the future of U.S. East Africa Trade and Investment intentionally — draws on the previous edition to develop a strategic platform for commercial advocacy, which will strengthen bilateral trade between Kenya and the U.S., as well as between our region and the U.S.,” said Ruto.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo participated in this year’s summit — which ended Thursday — saying it’s not enough to state the intentions of the United States to invest more and collaborate with Kenya.
“You also have to show up and that’s why I am here,” she said. “And when we show up, we also have to listen and learn.’’
Raimondo announces US-Kenya partnership
In her first official trip to East Africa, Raimondo reiterated President Joe Biden’s December 2022 message that the U.S. is all-in on Africa. To that end, she said she traveled with 14 members of the President’s Advisory Council on doing business in Africa.
“Africa has changed the narrative and the companies that are here today know that,” said Raimondo. “And they reflect the optimism and the commitment from the U.S. business community about the opportunities in Kenya and across the continent.”
Raimondo also announced a partnership “to harness artificial intelligence, facilitate data flows and empower digital upskilling with Kenya.”
The partnership, she said, is the first of its kind with an African nation to promote the safe development and deployment of AI. In addition, seven private-sector deals on digital transformation and commitments were made involving companies including the NBA, CISCO, Pfizer, and Qualcomm.
Two new grants by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency were announced to expand semiconductor fabrication in Kenya and the construction of a fiber network along the railways.
Rebecca Miano, Kenya’s cabinet secretary with the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, told participants that Kenya should be a destination for investors and not only because of its young, educated and innovative workforce.
“We also have a green story: decarbonizing the world,” Miano said. “Kenya is a key player.”
Miano said that up to 95 percent of the electricity consumed in Kenya is renewable.
“We have a target to make it 100% in the next few years,” she said.
Summit explores tech, climate, energy
The two-day AmCham summit brought together businesses to stimulate commercial opportunities, said Maxwell Okello, CEO of AmCham Kenya.
This year’s summit focused on key areas such as the tech space, climate action and green energy, said Okello.
“I am sure you’ve walked around and seen the pavilion under the title ‘Digital Transformation Africa,’ which brings together technology ecosystems both Kenyan but American as well,” said Okello. “Secondly, we have shone the light on … matters related to climate action and green business because we know we need to be green as we are moving forward.”
Out of 400 companies at the event, Wandia Gichuru, CEO of Vivo Fashion Group, got a special shout-out from U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, who said she was wearing a top made by Gichuru’s apparel company.
“We were very excited, not only she was wearing something Vivo, but she also made the announcement that we would be opening our very first U.S. store in Atlanta this May,” said Gichuru. “… and we hope that the ambassador and our president will visit the store while they are in the U.S. for the state visit in May.”
President Ruto is set to visit the United States next month in the first state visit since he was elected.
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-official-announces-business-partnership-with-kenya/7585238.html
In a first, the US will restrict existing coal-fired plants’ emissions
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired power plants to control 90% of their carbon emissions or shut down.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/us-restrict-existing-coal-fired-plants-emissions/
Honda Will Spend $11B To Build EVs, Battery Packs In Canada
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Honda has been building cars in Canada since the 1980s, but now it wants to go electric and have a complete local supply chain.
https://insideevs.com/news/717521/honda-investment-canada-evs/
The Great Unknown About Conflicts Of Interest In Arizona’s Abortion Ban
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Lever News
As state supreme courts consolidate power and corporate money, shoddy oversight allows justices to hide their financial conflicts of interest from the public.
https://www.levernews.com/the-great-unknown-about-conflicts-of-interest-in-arizonas-abortion-ban/
Lost 17th-Century Painting Returns to an Oxford Gallery Four Years After It Was Stolen
date: 2024-04-25, from: Smithsonian Magazine
“A Rocky Coast, With Soldiers Studying a Plan” was recovered from a man in Romania who alerted the authorities
These Massive, Extinct Salmon Had Spiky Teeth Like a Warthog’s Tusks
date: 2024-04-25, from: Smithsonian Magazine
For decades, scientists thought the teeth pointed downward, similar to those of a saber-toothed cat, but now they believe the fish’s chompers jutted out sideways
COC board member announces intent to step down
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
After 51 years as a local school board member, Joan MacGregor announced at Wednesday’s Santa Clarita Community College District board of trustees meeting that she is planning to step down. She said in a phone interview on Thursday that she will not carry out the final two and a half years of her term and […]
The post <strong>COC board member announces intent to step down</strong> appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/coc-board-member-announces-intent-to-step-down/
Former tabloid publisher says Trump called alleged paramour ‘a nice girl’
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
‘Lone Star,’ ‘Laundry and Bourbon’ coming to The Main
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Signal
News release Two classic one-act comedies written by the late James McLure are coming to The Main in Old Town Newhall for a two-weekend run starting May 10. The plays tell the story of a small 1970s Texas town from two very different perspectives. In the first play, “Laundry and Bourbon,” Elizabeth, Hattie and Amy […]
The post ‘Lone Star,’ ‘Laundry and Bourbon’ coming to The Main appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/04/lone-star-laundry-and-bourbon-coming-to-the-main/
SCVEDC Delves into Santa Clarita Film, Tourism Impact
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
How important is Film and Tourism to the Santa Clarita Valley Economy?
https://scvnews.com/scvedc-delves-into-santa-clarita-film-tourism-impact/
Daily Deals (4-25-2024)
date: 2024-04-25, from: Liliputing
Valve’s Steam Deck is already one of the most affordable handheld gaming PCs, with prices starting at $349 for an entry-level model with 64GB of eMMC storage and an LCD display (while supplies last). But right now Valve is offering refurbished models with 256GB of storage for $319 and 512GB versions for $359. Since refurbished […]
The post Daily Deals (4-25-2024) appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/daily-deals-4-25-2024/
ByteDance ‘would rather’ torpedo TikTok than sell it off
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
As app boss vows to nuke America’s divest-or-ban law in the courts
Between shutting down or selling TikTok, owner ByteDance would prefer doing the former.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/bytedance_tiktok_law/
Everrati rebrands B2B EV conversion arm to ‘Powered by Everrati’ amid clientele increase
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
EV conversion specialist Everrati announced reshuffling its business-to-business (B2B) strategy, rebranding the division as “Powered by Everrati.” The branding partially results from increased customers to the B2B division, which is reporting encouraging year-over-year growth.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/everrati-rebrands-b2b-ev-conversion-arm-powered-by-everrati/
Automatic Emergency Braking Tech Still Can’t Really Detect Motorcycles
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
As crash prevention technology improved safety for SUVs and cars, it potentially made riding a bike more dangerous.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717499/iihs-front-crash-prevention-test/
Metal Detectorists Unearth Tiny Bronze Portrait of Alexander the Great in Denmark
date: 2024-04-25, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Researchers think the 1,800-year-old artifact could be linked to a Roman emperor who was “obsessed” with the Macedonian conqueror
Bringing New Technologies to Bear for Biosurveillance
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: RAND blog
The recent COVID-19 pandemic and the current outbreak of avian influenza in U.S. dairy herds provide ample evidence of the problems faced in rapidly detecting and responding to infectious disease outbreaks. A biosurveillance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system could address these gaps.
Biden grants $6 billion to Micron to boost chip production
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden was in Syracuse, New York, Thursday to tout a deal to provide memory chip maker Micron Technology with $6.1 billion in federal grants to support the firm in building factories in the states of New York and Idaho.
“We’re bringing advanced chip manufacturing back to America after 40 years,” Biden said Thursday. He said the funding, paired with a $125 billion investment from Micron, represents the “single biggest private investment ever in history of these two states.”
The investment will support the construction of two plants in Clay, a suburb of Syracuse, New York, and one in Boise, Idaho. The grant will unleash “$50 billion in private investment by 2030 as the first step towards Micron’s investment of up to $125 billion across both states over the next two decades,” the White House said in a statement.
The deal was announced last week by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, who personally lobbied Micron to invest in his state. It’s the latest in a series of awards given by the administration, intended to shore up domestic production of advanced semiconductors using funds from the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The aim is to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on chip supplies from China and Taiwan.
This investment will “supercharge Micron to build the most advanced memory chip factory in the world, Schumer said Thursday. “America’s future will be built in Syracuse, not in Shanghai.”
The administration recently awarded Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor, Intel, GlobalFoundries, Microchip Technology, and BAE Systems, more than $29 billion in federal grants for chipmaking investments. It’s part of an effort to catch up in the global semiconductor manufacturing race currently dominated by China, Taiwan and South Korea.
The U.S. share of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity has decreased from 37% in 1990 to 12% today, largely because other governments have offered manufacturing incentives and invested in research to strengthen domestic chipmaking capabilities, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
To address such stiff foreign competition, the $280 billion bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act offers $52 billion in incentives for domestic semiconductor production and research, as well as an investment tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing.
Manufacturing revival
The announcements are part of the economic vision the president is offering to voters in his re-election bid – that he is working to create a manufacturing revival in the country, including in Republican-controlled districts such as where the Micron plant will be located.
“Micron’s total investment will be the largest private investment in New York and Idaho’s history, and will create over 70,000 jobs, including 20,000 direct construction and manufacturing jobs and tens of thousands of indirect jobs,” the White House said.
Ahead of the November presidential election, Biden’s strategy appears to be to announce investments in manufacturing facilities in Georgia, Idaho, North Carolina and Ohio, states where Democrats lack a strong foothold.
It is not clear whether the approach will succeed as voters will not immediately feel the effects. The initial phase of the Micron project, for example, would see the first plant opened in 2028 and the second in 2029.
Meanwhile, voters are concerned about high inflation, and dislike Biden’s economic job performance. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 34% of respondents approving of Biden’s approach on the economy, compared to 41% who favor the approach of former president Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
Still, Biden’s trip to New York is an opportunity for him to celebrate another victory following a string of good news for the president. On Wednesday, he secured the endorsement of the North America’s Building Trades Unions and signed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of congressional gridlock.
Paris Huang contributed to this report.
https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-grants-6-billion-to-micron-to-boost-chip-production/7585271.html
Wind Energy off Morro Bay Faces Fisher Lawsuit and Marine Sanctuary Issues
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Morro Bay and Port San Luis fishers want effects on sea life to be monitored, while Northern Chumash tribe negotiates with feds on cable location in proposed marine sanctuary.
The post Wind Energy off Morro Bay Faces Fisher Lawsuit and Marine Sanctuary Issues appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Biden, press to mock each other at traditional Washington dinner
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
Every April the sitting U.S. president and the White House media gather to make fun of each other. The star-studded White House Correspondents Dinner this Saturday is a good time to analyze how a president changes his speech to his audience. Here’s VOA’s Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti about what to expect this year - in the middle of a campaign.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS released
date: 2024-04-25, from: OS News
It wasn’t too long ago that new Ubuntu releases were major happenings in the Linux world, as it was the default Linux distribution for many, both old and newcomers, in the desktop Linux space. These days, Ubuntu release hit a little different, with Canonical’s focus having shifted much more to the enterprise, and several aspects of the distribution being decidedly unpopular, like the snap package management system. Still, Ubuntu is probably still one of the most popular, if not the most popular, distributions out there, so any new release, like today’s Ubuntu 24.0 LTS, is still a big deal. Ubuntu Desktop brings the Subiquity installer to an LTS for the first time. In addition to a refreshed user experience and a minimal install by default, the installer now includes experimental support for ZFS and TPM-based full disk encryption and the ability to import auto-install configurations. Post install, users will be greeted with the latest GNOME 46 alongside a new App Center and firmware-updater. Netplan is now the default for networking configuration and supports bidirectionality with NetworkManager. ↫ Utkarsh Gupta on ubuntu-announce Of course, all the various other Ubuntu editions have also seen new releases: Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Cinnamon, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Unity, and Xubuntu. Yes, that’s a long list. They all mostly share the same improvements as Ubuntu’s main course, but paired with the latest versions of the respective desktop environments instead. Except for Kubuntu. Unlike just about any other major distribution released over the last few months, such as Fedora 40 only a few days ago, Kubuntu does not ship with the new KDE Plasma 6, opting for Plasma 5.27.11 instead. There simply wasn’t enough time between the release of Plasma 6 and the Ubuntu feature freeze, so they made the – in my opinion – understandable call to stick to Plasma 5 for now, moving Plasma 6 to the next release later this year.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139439/ubuntu-24-04-lts-released/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Roy Cohn: “Don't tell me what the law is, tell me who the judge is.”
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9812898-don-t-tell-me-what-the-law-is-tell-me-who
Skies Over Athens Turn a Martian Orange Amid Saharan Dust Storm
date: 2024-04-25, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Strong winds brought desert dust and heat across the Mediterranean this week, sparking health advisories and fires in Greece
TMU Biology Students Earn Recognition at Annual Research Conference
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Earlier this month, a team of biology students at The Master’s University won a distinguished award at one of the oldest intercollegiate research conferences in the country
https://scvnews.com/tmu-biology-students-earn-recognition-at-annual-research-conference/
Hyundai to add hybrids at EV-only plant as rising demand throws a curveball
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
Following similar announcements from rivals, Hyundai is adding more hybrids to its lineup as a bridge to its next-gen EVs. Hyundai will add hybrid production lines at its dedicated EV plant in Georgia as demand rises.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/hyundai-adds-hybrids-ev-only-plant-rising-sales-throws-curveball/
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS released with performance and security updates and 5+ years of support
date: 2024-04-25, from: Liliputing
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is now available for download, and the latest version of the popular GNU/Linux distribution brings a number of significant updates. It’s based on the Linux 6.8 kernel, ships with GNOME 46 by default, adds new security features and updated versions of key apps. As an LTS (Long Term Support) release, Ubuntu 24.04 […]
The post Ubuntu 24.04 LTS released with performance and security updates and 5+ years of support appeared first on Liliputing.
US communications regulator restores net neutrality annulled under Trump
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
washington — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 on Thursday to reinstate landmark net neutrality rules and reassume regulatory oversight of broadband internet rescinded under former President Donald Trump.
The commission voted along party lines to finalize a proposal first advanced in October to reinstate open internet rules adopted in 2015 and re-establish the commission’s broadband authority.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency “believes every consumer deserves internet access that is fast, open, and fair.”
“The last FCC threw this authority away and decided broadband needed no supervision,” she said.
Net neutrality refers to the principle that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.
The FCC said it was also using its authority to order the U.S. units of China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile to discontinue broadband internet access services in the United States.
Rosenworcel noted the FCC has taken similar actions against Chinese telecom companies in the past using existing authority.
Reinstating the net neutrality rules has been a priority for President Joe Biden, who signed a July 2021 executive order encouraging the FCC to reinstate net neutrality rules adopted under Democratic President Barack Obama.
Democrats were stymied for nearly three years because they did not take majority control of the five-member FCC until October.
Under Trump, the FCC had argued the net neutrality rules were unnecessary, blocked innovation and resulted in a decline in network investment by internet service providers, a contention disputed by Democrats.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticized the FCC action saying it was “imposing a flawed, pre-television era regulatory structure on broadband” and “will only deter the investments and innovation necessary to connect all Americans.”
Public interest group Free Press said the vote is a “major victory for the public interest” saying it “empowers the FCC to hold companies like AT&T, Comcast, Spectrum and Verizon accountable for a wide range of harms to internet users across the United States.”
A group of Republican lawmakers, including House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senator Ted Cruz, called the plan “an illegal power grab that would expose the broadband industry to an oppressive regulatory regime” giving the agency and states power to impose rate regulation, unbundle obligations and tax broadband internet providers.
Democrats on the FCC say they will not set rate regulations.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include Amazon.com, Apple, Alphabet and Meta Platforms, back net neutrality, arguing the rules “must be reinstated to preserve open access to the internet.”
USTelecom, whose members include AT&T, Verizon and others, called reinstating net neutrality “entirely counterproductive, unnecessary, and an anti-consumer regulatory distraction.”
Despite the 2017 decision to withdraw the requirement at the federal level, a dozen states now have net neutrality laws or regulations in place. Industry groups abandoned legal challenges to those state requirements in May 2022.
FCC votes 3-2 to bring net neutrality back from the dead
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Law responds again to pings
The FCC voted Thursday to restore America’s net neutrality rules, nearly seven years after they were taken offline.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/net_neutrality_rules/
Genealogy version 2 released
date: 2024-04-25, from: RiscOS Story
Receiving a major update from R-Comp, their Genealogy software is now at version 2. The changes make it easier to use, and brings the ability to produce many new charts and diagrams. As well as six new types of ancestor chart, each of which has new styles, the user interface has been improved with new menus, icons, and shortcuts, and the operation has been revamped to focus on a single window for data entry, along with some additional colour coded information windows. There are also now easy-to-use search menus for…
https://www.riscository.com/2024/genealogy-version-2-released/
NetFetch 5.55 released
date: 2024-04-25, from: RiscOS Story
A new version of NetFetch has been released by R-Comp in time for this year’s Wakefield Show, which will take place in Bradford this Saturday – 27th April. Version 5.55 supports the latest versions of RISC OS and, as well as NetFetch itself, includes updates to Hermes, NewsHound, and FTPc. The application gains support for the latest SSL/TSL standards, and fetching news over SSL is now supported. According to R-Comp, updating to the latest version is recommended – discounted prices are available for older versions, with the amount varying according…
https://www.riscository.com/2024/netfetch-5-55-released/
Supreme Court considers Trump’s claim of criminal immunity
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
washington — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared skeptical of former President Donald Trump’s claim that he enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts he took while in office, but several justices expressed doubts about the details of charges brought against him in a pending federal trial.
Trump faces criminal charges in four jurisdictions in the United States, but the case at issue on Thursday was his federal indictment on charges that as part of his effort to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, he committed fraud against the United States, attempted to obstruct an official government proceeding, and illegally pressured public officials to help him block certification of the election results.
While the former president would clearly prefer a ruling that agrees with his claims of blanket immunity from criminal prosecution, a decision that significantly delays the progress of his criminal trial could benefit him as well, by pushing resolution of the case past the presidential elections in November.
Should Trump win the presidency again, it would be within his power to direct the Department of Justice to drop the case against him.
Opposing arguments
The basis of Thursday’s hearing was a request by Trump that the high court review a unanimous appeals court decision that rejected his claim of absolute immunity out of hand.
Attorney D. John Sauer, representing Trump, took the position that presidential immunity from criminal prosecution has, in fact, always existed, and argued that without it, a president would be unable to take decisive action while in office.
“Without presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it,” Sauer said.
“If a president can be charged, put on trial and imprisoned for his most controversial decisions the moment he leaves office, that looming threat will distort the president’s decision-making precisely when bold and fearless action is most needed,” he said. “Every current president will face de facto blackmail and extortion by his political rivals while he is still in office.”
Making the case for the government, attorney Michael Dreeben pointed out that despite Trump’s claims, the courts have never recognized the existence of absolute immunity from criminal prosecution and warned of the potential consequences of doing so.
“His novel theory would immunize former presidents for criminal liability for bribery, treason, sedition, murder and here — conspiring to use fraud to overturn the results of an election and perpetuate himself in power,” Dreeben said.
“Such presidential immunity has no foundation in the Constitution,” he said. “The framers knew too well the dangers of a king who could do no wrong. They therefore devised a system to check abuses of power, especially the use of official power for private gain.”
‘Official acts’
Much of the discussion during the nearly three-hour hearing focused on what constitutes “official acts” by the president.
Early on, Chief Justice John Roberts pointed out the difficulty in drawing that distinction, presenting a hypothetical case in which a president accepts a bribe in return for nominating a particular person to an ambassadorship.
“Accepting the bribe isn’t an official act, but appointing an ambassador is certainly within the official responsibilities of the president,” Roberts said, asking the president’s attorney how he would propose drawing the distinction.
Sauer, under questioning from several justices, insisted that presidents enjoy broad immunity from prosecution for official acts, even when prosecutors believe they can demonstrate that the official act was taken for personal benefit.
“That’s a situation which, of course, could be alleged in any indictment,” he argued.
Several of the conservative-leaning justices on the court appeared willing to consider at least some degree of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts, if not the absolute variety claimed by Trump.
“You believe that immunity from criminal prosecution is essential for the proper functioning of the presidency,” said Justice Samuel Alito. “But my question is whether the very robust form of immunity that you’re advocating is really necessary in order to achieve that result.”
Other conservatives on the court, including Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, both Trump appointees, also seemed willing to consider at least some sort of limited immunity from criminal prosecution for presidents.
Liberal justices weigh in
Justice Elena Kagan, one of the court’s liberal-leaning members, expressed incredulity at the idea that the Constitution should be read as placing a president beyond the reach of the criminal law.
“The framers did not put an immunity clause into the Constitution,” she said. “They knew how to; there were immunity clauses in some state constitutions. They knew how to give legislative immunity. They didn’t provide immunity to the president.”
The reason, she said, was that the government of the United States was founded in reaction against the monarchy in the United Kingdom.
“They were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law,” she said. “Wasn’t the whole point that the president was not a monarch, and the president was not supposed to be above the law?”
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Biden appointee and the court’s newest member, expressed concern about the impact of agreeing to Trump’s claims of absolute immunity.
“If the potential for criminal liability is taken off the table, wouldn’t there be significant risk that future presidents would be emboldened to commit crimes with abandon while they are in office?” Jackson asked.
Possible changes
While it is not possible to know how the court will rule, Thursday’s hearing suggested that there are several conservative justices — perhaps enough to constitute a five-vote majority — who are open to requiring at least some changes to the way the government has charged the case.
That could include restricting the actions for which Trump can be charged to those that are plainly outside the bounds of his official duties. Doing so would require the trial court to hear evidence and make a determination as to whether the various actions by Trump enumerated in the indictment constitute official or unofficial conduct.
Such a ruling would almost certainly create a sufficient delay in the progress of the case to ensure that no resolution is reached until after the election takes place in November, and possibly after the winner of the next election is sworn in as president in January 2025.
Trump in New York
Despite the stakes of Thursday’s hearing, Trump was not in attendance at the Supreme Court. He was required to be in a different courtroom, in New York, where he is on trial for falsifying business records as part of an arrangement to guarantee the silence of an adult film actor who in 2016 claimed she had engaged in a sexual affair with Trump several years prior.
However, on Thursday morning, Trump addressed the question of his immunity claim in a series of posts on his social network, Truth Social.
“If a President does not have Immunity, the Opposing Party, during his/her term in Office, can extort and blackmail the President by saying that,”if you don’t give us everything we want, we will Indict you for things you did while in Office,” even if everything done was totally Legal and Appropriate,” he wrote.
“That would be the end of the Presidency, and our Country, as we know it, and is just one of the many Traps there would be for a President without Presidential Immunity,” he added.
Heretic gets a 2024 update
date: 2024-04-25, from: RiscOS Story
Following the update to Hexen, released by R-Comp just in time for Southwest 2024, there is now an updated version of Heretic available, just in time for Wakefield! The 2024 edition of Heretic follows in Hexen’s footsteps, gaining compatibility with modern RISC OS systems – yet remains compatible with machines as far back as the RiscPC. It also gains much improved graphics, with a new lighting model, and is playable at higher resolutions than before, and it can also use high quality soundtrack recordings to enhance the atmosphere when playing.…
https://www.riscository.com/2024/heretic-2024-update/
US judge upholds Trump’s $83.3 million defamation loss, rejects new trial
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
NEW YORK — A federal judge on Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s bid to throw out an $83.3 million defamation verdict in favor of the writer E. Jean Carroll, who said the former U.S. president defamed her after she accused him of raping her decades ago.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan denied Trump’s requests for a new trial, or to have the former Elle magazine advice columnist’s case thrown out altogether.
He also dismissed arguments that the jury’s award to Carroll following Trump’s “malicious and unceasing attacks” was too high, and that errors at the civil trial tainted the verdict.
Trump is appealing the verdict and plans to appeal Thursday’s decision.
“We categorically disagree with Judge Kaplan’s decision,” his lawyer Alina Habba said in a statement. “It ignores long-standing constitutional principles and is a prime example of the lawfare raging across this country.”
Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer for Carroll, said she was not surprised by the decision, and said the $83.3 million award was “entirely reasonable.” She is not related to the judge.
Trump is the Republican presidential candidate in the 2024 election, and also a defendant in four criminal cases, including an ongoing hush money trial.
In the Jan. 26 verdict, jurors agreed with Carroll that Trump defamed her in June 2019 by denying that he had raped her in the mid-1990s in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan.
Jurors awarded Carroll $18.3 million in compensatory damages for emotional and reputational harm, plus $65 million in punitive damages.
Trump’s lawyers argued that the judge instructed jurors improperly about the burden of proof needed to show malice and erred in striking testimony about his state of mind.
According to the lawyers, Trump’s testimony that “I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency” was relevant to whether he had acted maliciously, and that excluding it “all but assured” a big punitive damages award.
But the judge said Trump’s attacks had been seen by more than 100 million people, and that Trump defamed Carroll with out-of-court statements even during the trial.
He also said Trump “put his hatred and disdain on full display” in the courtroom, including by muttering that the proceedings were a “witch hunt” and “con job,” and walking out as Carroll’s lawyer made her closing argument.
“On this exceptional record, the punitive damages evidence passes constitutional muster,” Judge Kaplan wrote.
Last May, a different jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million over an October 2022 denial of Carroll’s accusations, finding he had defamed and sexually abused her. Trump is also appealing that verdict.
Entering a New Era: A student’s feelings about leaving university
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
Saying that I feel uneasy about graduating is the understatement of a lifetime. Especially when considering that I am entering a polarizing election year and an unstable job market, it…
There’s A Tesla Model 3 Performance Drivetrain Hiding Inside This Toyota Tacoma
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Funnily enough, both the Model 3 and the Tacoma were built at the same factory in Fremont, California.
https://insideevs.com/news/717454/1st-gen-toyota-tacoma-tesla-model-3-performance-swap/
Matador Marquee: Films about mental health and university life
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
College is a place that can be full of triumph, but also adversity. Challenges can vary from other students, bullying, academics or lack of accommodations. Due to this, many students…
Historic Borax Wagon Destroyed in Blaze at Death Valley National Park
date: 2024-04-25, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Beginning in 1883, 18 mules and two horses hauled wagons full of borax across eastern California
Some Americans would rather vote for a third-party candidate. Here’s why.
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
We often hear that our country has not been so bitterly divided since the Civil Rights era–maybe even since the Civil War. Americans cannot seem to agree on hot-button issues…
It’s Never Too Early to Start Thinking About COP
date: 2024-04-25, from: Heatmap News
The United Nations’ climate summit in Dubai ended last December with a mad dash to lock in a location for this year’s gathering. Which is how we wound up with yet another petrostate — Azerbaijan — as the host.
On Thursday at a climate conference in Berlin, Azerbaijan’s minister of ecology and natural resources and COP29’s President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev outlined his vision for the November get-together. “Our previous promises now need to be delivered, not re-interpreted. Fulfilled, not re-negotiated,” he told participants in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, according to a transcript of his prepared remarks. “Everyone has a duty to make sure their actions match their words.”
And by actions, he means cash.
The first few days of last year’s conference saw nations attempting to outdo each other with headline-grabbing funding pledges, the delegates stopped short of adopting a comprehensive financing plan. That’s top of the priority list for 2024. In an interview with the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., last week, Babayev said, “The agenda is to invite all the donors to at least increase their contribution for developing countries. Because with the climate change there, we are daily faced with all these impacts.”
Babayev (who was also, it should be noted, employed by the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan for more than two decades) was in Washington for the spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and apparently found them uninspiring. “We know that the world needs to increase the overall flow of climate finance by several multiples,” he said in Berlin, according to Bloomberg. “While we heard a great deal of concern and worry, we did not yet see adequate and sufficient action.”
“Enable action” constitutes the second of the twin pillars Babayev outlined for COP29. The first, “enhance ambition,” has a handful of sub-pillars, including “ensuring all Parties receive the support they need to design and implement the next generation of” Nationally Determined Contributions, which parties to the Paris Agreement — a product of COP21 — submit every five years; adopting National Adaptation Plans by 2025; and filing Biennial Transparency Reports on their progress toward their stated goals.
In some ways, though, COP29 will be a mere prelude to the really big show: COP30, set for Belem, Brazil. That meeting will represent the 10th anniversary of the Paris COP. According to the UN, 2025 is also when global emissions must peak to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. According to Tom Evans of climate consultancy E3G, “With faith in the Paris Agreement on the line, what happens between now and Belem is vital for keeping multilateralism alive in a context of geopolitical turmoil and division.”
Belem was proposed as a host for COP30 way back at COP27 and formally selected in December of last year. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will have a comparatively slim 10 months to prepare. Surely it will all be fine, if only they can deal with the lines.
https://heatmap.news/sparks/cop29-mukhtar-babayev-berlin
British Clubs Wrexham AFC and AFC Bournemouth Will Clash at Harder Stadium
date: 2024-04-25, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The match will be on July 20.
The post British Clubs Wrexham AFC and AFC Bournemouth Will Clash at Harder Stadium appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
NASA Finds New Homes for Artemis Generation of ‘Moon Trees’ Across US
date: 2024-04-25, from: NASA breaking news
After careful review of hundreds of applications, NASA has selected organizations from across the country to receive ‘Moon Tree’ seedlings that flew around the Moon on the agency’s Artemis I mission in 2022, to plant in their communities. Notifications to selected institutions will be made in phases, with the first beginning this spring, followed by […]
Detecting drift and dealing with the Silicon Valley mindset
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Pulumi’s CEO on new products and that other Infrastructure as Code company
Interview Infrastructure as code biz Pulumi has updated its eponymous Deployments product with drift detection and automated clean-up for an untidy reality.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/detecting_driftt_and_dealng_with/
TMU Women’s Basketball Coach to Resign
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Lisa Zamroz has announced her intent to step down as the head coach of The Master’s University’s women’s basketball team effective July 1,
https://scvnews.com/tmu-womens-basketball-coach-to-resign/
Elon Musk Says Tesla Is An A.I. Company. He Should Let Someone Else Make The Cars
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Elon Musk clearly doesn’t want to run a car company. So let him run “Tesla” as an AI company, and turn Tesla’s car business into its own company.
https://insideevs.com/news/717357/tesla-should-spin-off-car-business/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
What Happened to “The Shining” Actress Shelly Duvall.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/25/style/shelley-duvall.html
The US just came up with a plan to upgrade 100k miles of transmission lines in 5 years
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
The White House just debuted a plan to expand the grid’s capacity by upgrading 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/us-plan-upgrade-100k-miles-of-transmission-lines-5-years/
Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning Your Neighborhood
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Spring heralds a time of renewal and rejuvenation, not just in the natural world, but within our homes and lives as well
https://scvnews.com/cameron-smyth-spring-cleaning-your-neighborhood/
Review: Cano’s “The Fall” takes a story about identity, sports and self-discovery to a new level
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
A 20-something-year-old trying to figure out who he is. A domineering father figure pushing his son towards a career path he’s unsure of. The son coming into his own and…
Review: Long live the King
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
As time rolls around, many monsters get their time in the sun. Ever since the Academy Award-winning “Godzilla: Minus One” left theaters and lingers in the minds of many film…
https://sundial.csun.edu/181107/arts-entertainment/review-long-live-the-king/
MOONDROP MIAD 01 smartphone with HiFi audio features launches globally for $399
date: 2024-04-25, from: Liliputing
Well that was quick. Just a day after launching in China, the MOONDROP MIAD 01 5G smartphone with HiFi audio features has now launched worldwide. The Android-powered smartphone is available now from HiFiGo for $399. It could show up at other stores soon: MOONDROP says the phone should be available from “authorized stores” and eCommerce […]
The post MOONDROP MIAD 01 smartphone with HiFi audio features launches globally for $399 appeared first on Liliputing.
Tesla’s Annual EV Production Capacity Is Set To Reach Almost 3 Million Units
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Meanwhile, production of the Model Y and Cybertruck in Texas reached a new record level.
https://insideevs.com/news/717446/tesla-annual-vehicle-capacity-2024q1/
US issues further sanctions on Iran, targets drones
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
Washington — The United States on Thursday issued further sanctions on Iran, targeting Iranian drones, including their use by Russia in the war in Ukraine, as Washington seeks to ratchet up pressure on Tehran.
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said the action, taken in coordination with the United Kingdom and Canada, targets over one dozen entities, individuals and vessels it accused of playing a key role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles to Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
MODAFL in turn supports Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Treasury said.
“Iran’s Ministry of Defense continues to destabilize the region and world with its support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies,” said Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence,Brian Nelson.
Washington also targeted two companies and a vessel involved in the shipment of Iranian commodities, the Treasury said.
“The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Iran’s destabilizing activities,” Nelson said.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sahara Thunder plays key role
The Treasury said it targeted a company named Sahara Thunder, accusing it of being a main front company that oversees MODAFL’s commercial activities in support of the IRGC and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
It said the company plays a key role in Iran’s design, development, manufacture and sale of thousands of drones, many of them ultimately transferred to Russia for use against Ukraine.
As of 2022, Russian officials were negotiating a deal for Sahara Thunder to deliver and produce thousands of drones per year at a facility in Russia under U.S. sanctions, the Treasury said.
Sahara Thunder’s leadership and shipping network, which the Treasury said the company relied on for the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities on behalf of MODAFL to jurisdictions including China, Russia and Venezuela, were also targeted.
An Iran-based company involved in the procurement and development of unmanned aerial vehicles, its leadership and an Iranian cargo airline were also among those hit with sanctions.
The U.S. earlier this month had warned it would impose further sanctions on Iran following its unprecedented attack on Israel.
Washington has since taken measures, including targeting Iran’s drone program, steel industry and cyber actors.
Iran this month launched more than 300 drones and missiles against Israel, its first direct attack on the country, in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 11 that killed elite military officers.
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-issues-further-sanctions-on-iran-targets-drones/7585059.html
Nothing off the table in US response to China overcapacity, Yellen says
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
washington — The Biden administration is not taking any options off the table to respond to China’s excess industrial capacity, which is a top concern for the U.S. and its allies, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on Thursday.
China exporting its way to full employment is not acceptable to the rest of the world, Yellen said in a Reuters Next interview in Washington.
Yellen said that during her trip to China earlier this month, she was “successful” in raising U.S. concerns with Chinese officials about Beijing flooding global markets with electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels and other clean energy goods, threatening U.S. jobs. She added that Chinese officials acknowledge a problem with industrial overcapacity, but they need to address it.
She said the issue, which threatens producers of similar goods in the U.S., Europe, Japan and emerging markets such as India and Mexico, was again “discussed intensively” with Chinese officials in Washington on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings last week.
Yellen added that the problem will not be resolved “in a day or a week.”
“So it’s important that China recognize the concern and begin to act to address it,” Yellen said. “But we don’t want our industry wiped out in the meantime, so I wouldn’t want to take anything off the table.”
The Biden administration is completing a review of the “Section 301” unfair trade tariffs on Chinese imports imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, which U.S. officials have said could lead to higher tariffs on some products. President Joe Biden last week called for the review to triple the Section 301 duties on Chinese steel to 25%.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai also told U.S. senators that the U.S. needed to take “early action, decisive action” to protect the fledgling American EV sector from Chinese imports. U.S. tariffs on Chinese vehicle imports are now about 27.5%, and few Chinese EVs are sold in the U.S. at the moment.
“We have no problem with China producing and selling globally and exporting, but the United States and Europe and other countries also want to have some involvement in the ability to produce clean energy products that are going to be of great importance,” Yellen said.
Save $500 on RadRover 6 Plus e-bike for $1,099, Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller hits $99, and more
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
We have have a truly summer-inspired lineup of Green Deals today, headlined by Rad Power’s latest flash sale that is taking up to $500 off four e-bike models, with the RadRover 6 Plus e-bike falling to a new $1,099 low. It is joined by the reappearance of the Rachio 3 3rd Generation Smart 4-Zone Sprinkler Controller that we haven’t seen discounted in a while, now at $99, as well as an even rarer 1-day sale on Anker’s EverFrost Dual-Zone Portable Cooler 50 for $619. 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.
XPeng at Beijing Auto Show: 2K pure vision ADAS, neural network, 1km/sec fast charging, and a new AI-driven EV sub-brand [Video]
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
XPeng Motors kept things relatively short but sweet during its 20-minute presentation at the 2024 Beijing International Auto Show earlier today, but there’s a lot to get excited about following several updates from XPeng founder, chairman, and CEO He Xiaopeng, including an “entirely new breed” of EVs under a new sub-brand. Here’s the full recap.
Facebook’s Bizarre AI Images Now on LinkedIn, Too
date: 2024-04-25, from: 404 Media Group
Linkedin lunatics discover AI image engagement hacking.
https://www.404media.co/facebooks-bizarre-ai-images-now-on-linkedin-too/
Biden, 17 world leaders demand Hamas release hostages
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
Washington — U.S. President Joe Biden and leaders of 17 other countries with citizens believed or known to be held by Hamas are demanding the militant group accept a proposed cease-fire deal with Israel and release the hostages immediately.
The deal offered would “bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, that would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza, and lead to the credible end of hostilities,” they said Thursday in a statement released by the White House.
“Gazans would be able to return to their homes and their lands with preparations beforehand to ensure shelter and humanitarian provisions,” the statement said.
In addition to the United States, the 17 countries are Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Hamas has rejected a proposed deal that would bring a cease-fire immediately to Gaza in return for the release of women, wounded, elderly and sick hostages, a senior Biden administration official told reporters in a briefing Thursday. However, he said there are signals from the group that suggest they are still considering the offer.
Various reports suggest Hamas is demanding a complete cease-fire, the full retreat of Israel Defense Forces troops from Gaza, an increase in humanitarian aid, and the full return of displaced Gazans to the north. The group maintains that Israel is not allowing Gazans to go home in an unrestricted way as the IDF has not pulled back from central Gaza.
The official said the deal being offered to Hamas allows the “unrestricted return” of Gazans to the northern part of the Palestinian enclave and includes provisions for a United Nations mission to ensure shelter and other assistance “over the first weeks of the cease-fire” for the population returning north.
The statement follows the release by Hamas of a video showing Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin on Wednesday. The video appears to be the first proof that the 24-year-old survived a severe injury during his capture on October 7 from the Nova music festival, during the Hamas attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people.
The U.S.-designated terrorist group took about 250 others hostage, some of whom were released during a brief truce in November. Israel’s military response in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people, mostly civilians, and has increased tensions in the Middle East.
Video filmed on October 7 of Goldberg-Polin being taken hostage showed his left hand blown off, likely by a grenade. The video that Hamas released on Wednesday is undated and shows him with part of his left arm missing.
Biden and the leaders said Thursday they strongly support the ongoing mediation efforts. “Let us end this crisis so that collectively we can focus our efforts on bringing peace and stability to the region,” they said.
The senior administration official places the blame for the failure of negotiations on Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The official said Sinwar is “ultimately the decision maker” on whether Hamas accepts the deal.
The official declined to confirm reports that Sinwar recently emerged briefly from the Hamas-dug tunnels to meet with his militants above ground.
“Justice will come for Sinwar,” he said.
https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-17-world-leaders-demand-hamas-release-hostages-/7584825.html
CDC: US birth rate drops after slight post-COVID rebound
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/cdc-us-birth-rate-drops-after-slight-post-covid-rebound/7584972.html
Toyota preps new large electric SUV, is this the Highlander EV we’ve been waiting for?
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
Another fully electric large Toyota SUV is on its way. Toyota announced it’s preparing its three-row electric SUV as part of a new $1.4 billion investment in Indiana. Is this the electric Toyota Highlander EV we’ve been waiting for?
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/toyota-preps-new-electric-suv-us-highlander-ev/
NASA’s Optical Comms Demo Transmits Data Over 140 Million Miles
date: 2024-04-25, from: NASA breaking news
NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment also interfaced with the Psyche spacecraft’s communication system for the first time, transmitting engineering data to Earth. Riding aboard NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, the agency’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration continues to break records. While the asteroid-bound spacecraft doesn’t rely on optical communications to send data, the new technology […]
The most important thing I teach my students
date: 2024-04-25, from: Robert Reich on Substack
Friends, Several of you asked that I repost this from earlier this week because you read it once and couldn’t find it again or you heard about it and didn’t know where it was. Herewith: The most important thing I teach my students is to seek out people who disagree with them.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-most-important-thing-i-teach-555
Two cuffed in Samourai Wallet crypto dirty money sting
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Suspects in Portugal and the US said to have laundered over $100M
Two men alleged to be co-founders of cryptocurrency biz Samourai Wallet face serious charges and potentially decades in US prison over claims they owned a product that facilitated the laundering of over $100 million in criminal cash.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/samourai_wallet_laundering_charges/
Will Kymco’s EV-Motos Finally Become A Reality Thanks to LiveWire?
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Kymco’s joint development with LiveWire for the S3 could lay the foundation for a bunch of new models.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717215/kymco-developing-livewire-s3-electric-motorcycles/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
I asked ChatGPT to write a report, and got back a good list with background info, never could have gotten it from a journalist (too conflicted, too lazy, often outright corrupt) or Wikipedia (controlled by trolls).
https://chat.openai.com/share/a5f524c2-e9c2-480f-9587-9ef2ee5f74b8
The Mazda EZ-6 Is The Electric, Rear-Wheel-Drive Mazda Sport Sedan We Want
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Available as an EV or a PHEV, the EZ-6 is an incredibly handsome and modern sport sedan. Hey Mazda, what would it take to bring this stateside?
https://insideevs.com/news/717485/mazda-ez6-china-debut/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Concert promoter Peter Shapiro takes over at Bearsville Theater.
COC Names Gigi Garcia, Hannes Yngve Athletes of the Week
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
College of the Canyons student-athletes Gigi Garcia (softball) and Hannes Yngve (men’s golf) have been named the COC Athletic Department’s Women’s and Men’s Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 15-
https://scvnews.com/coc-names-gigi-garcia-hannes-yngve-athletes-of-the-week/
2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance Shows What It’s Made Of On Canyon Roads
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Has Tesla made the first affordable EV for driving enthusiasts?
https://insideevs.com/news/717430/tesla-model-3-performance-canyon-review/
Azulle Access Pro Alder Lake is an Intel N100-powered PC Stick that plugs into the HDMI port on your display
date: 2024-04-25, from: Liliputing
PC makers have been shipping small form-factor computers powered by Intel’s Alder Lake-N processor for almost as long as Intel’s latest low-cost, low-power chips have been available. But the Azulle Access Pro Alder Lake is the first model that I’d call a PC Stick. That’s because unlike other pocket–sized computers with Intel Alder Lake-N chips, […]
The post Azulle Access Pro Alder Lake is an Intel N100-powered PC Stick that plugs into the HDMI port on your display appeared first on Liliputing.
A Market for Donor Kidneys Is Not the Reform the U.S. Needs
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: RAND blog
It takes hard work, but it is possible to increase the number of organ donations and benefit patients. Rather than looking to quick fixes that may not actually improve the system, the focus needs to continue to build off what we already have.
EU Should Buy Ammo Outside of the Bloc to Quickly Resupply Ukraine
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: RAND blog
More than two years since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the situation on the eastern front now looks dire, with Ukrainian defenders running out of ammunition quickly and Western unity in question. The Czech Republic has a plan that could help resupply Ukrainian forces with artillery shells.
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Arizona fake electors indicted: Kris Mayes unveils grand jury charges.
Navigating the Moon with Art
date: 2024-04-25, from: NASA breaking news
An artist uses an airbrush to recreate the lunar surface on one of the four models comprising the LOLA, or Lunar Orbit and Landing Approach, simulator in this November 12, 1964, photo. Project LOLA was a simulator built at Langley to study problems related to landing on the lunar surface. In “Spaceflight Revolution: NASA Langley […]
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/navigating-the-moon-with-art/
Tesla Cybertruck owner gets quoted over $30,000 for Powershare installation
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
A Tesla Cybertruck owner has been quoted over $30,000 for a Powershare installation to enable his electric pickup truck to power his house.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/tesla-cybertruck-owner-quoted-over-30000-powershare-installation/
TSMC says first 1.6nm chips coming in 2026
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Watch out Intel … Angstrom-class A16 with Super Rail backside power tech incoming
Semiconductor giant TSMC has disclosed details of a process technology called A16 that could be delivering the first 1.6nm chips for customers by 2026.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/tsmc_first_16nm_chips/
April 26-28: Community Weekend Returns to CalArts
date: 2024-04-25, from: SCV New (TV Station)
California Institute of the Arts’ Community Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, April
https://scvnews.com/april-26-28-community-weekend-returns-to-calarts/
Spring Cleaning in Your Neighborhood
date: 2024-04-25, from: City of Santa Clarita
By Mayor Cameron Smyth 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 […]
The post Spring Cleaning in Your Neighborhood appeared first on City of Santa Clarita.
https://santaclarita.gov/blog/2024/04/25/spring-cleaning-in-your-neighborhood/
You Can Get A Big Discount On A Genesis EV Right Now
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
The same price cut is available for purchasing and leasing.
https://insideevs.com/news/717410/genesis-ev-discount-april-2024/
Genesis unveils new G80 EV Magma concept teasing latest Tesla Model S Plaid rival
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
A new sporty Genesis electric car is poised to compete with Tesla’s Model S Plaid. Genesis revealed the G80 EV Magma Concept alongside its newly designed Electrified G80 at the Beijing Auto Show. Can the high-performance Genesis compete with Tesla’s Model S Plaid?
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/genesis-g80-ev-magma-concept-teases-tesla-model-s-plaid-rival/
Spotify claims Apple wants ‘tax’ for in-app pricing tweak
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
App maker accuses Cupertino of defying EU rules
Spotify claims Apple rejected an update to the popular music streaming app that would have informed users about purchase methods outside of the Apple ecosystem.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/spotify_says_apple_defied_eu/
This Fashion Brand is Selling $12,500 Knock-Off Motorcycle Pants
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Sashay away!
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717477/balenciaga-pantashoes-motorcycle-pants-price/
Ancient Maya Royals’ Remains Were Burned in a Public Ceremony to Mark a New Political Regime
date: 2024-04-25, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Archaeologists discovered charred remains of former rulers tossed “haphazardly” into a tomb in present-day Guatemala, suggesting they had been removed from their original burial sites
Too little, and too much, self-promotion
date: 2024-04-25, from: Manu - I write blog
<p>Self-promotion is a weird subject. It’s one of those things that is strictly tied to who you are as a person. I am, broadly speaking, a shy and reserved person. I don’t like to be in the spotlight, I don’t like to draw attention to myself. I also really care about other people's space and time, which is why I’ve always been incredibly conservative when it comes to promoting things I do online.</p>Every time I need to do something that is marketing-related, I can feel the tension in my brain as if a part of me is trying to fight against it. And this is for the most benign things. I’ll give you an example. I recently edited all P&B interviews and added a line at the end of the intro that reads:
If you’re enjoying the People and Blogs series and you want to see it grow, consider supporting on Ko-Fi.
A line of text and a link. The reason why I did that is because the only place where Ko-Fi was mentioned was way at the of each interview and I thought that most people probably stop reading when they reach the end of the interview. And so I added that single line. But adding that single line was a struggle. Because in my head, it’s obvious that if you do enjoy something and are willing to support it, you’d probably go look for a way to do it. That’s how my brain works. But unfortunately, that’s not how the internet works. Apparently, the correct approach seems to be the opposite one. You have to constantly remind people to like and subscribe, to support, to contribute, and to share.
How much self-promotion is too much? Substack interrupting your reading experience to remind you to subscribe feels too much to me. An overlay interrupting your browsing to ask you to subscribe to a newsletter is also too much. Am I wrong? Am I crazy in thinking it’s too much?
Also, is promoting something I’m doing any different than advertising? I know it’s conceptually not the same thing but for you, on the other side of this, is it any different? So many questions. It’s goddamn hard to do “marketing” with integrity.
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The Volkswagen Group Comes Out Swinging With 44 Cars At The Beijing Auto Show
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Plus, CATL unveils a new 620-mile LFP battery and Xiaomi already has 75,000 orders for its SU7 EV.
https://insideevs.com/news/717450/vw-group-44-cars-beijing/
Llamafile’s progress, four months in
date: 2024-04-25, from: Mozilla Developer Network blog
When Mozilla’s Innovation group first launched the llamafile project late last year, we were thrilled by the immediate positive response from open source AI developers. It’s become one of Mozilla’s top three most-favorited repositories on GitHub, attracting a number of contributors, some excellent PRs, and a growing community on our Discord server.
The post Llamafile’s progress, four months in appeared first on Mozilla Hacks - the Web developer blog.
https://hacks.mozilla.org/2024/04/llamafiles-progress-four-months-in/
@Tomosino’s Mastodon feed (date: 2024-04-25, from: Tomosino’s Mastodon feed)
One of today’s highlights is the installation InStability, an interactive exhibit by two close friends ( @karafuto ) that explores seizmic activity in the Reykjanes peninsula (Reykjavík-ish). Using capacitive textiles and pressure sensitive layers the exhibit lets visitors touch the land and create earthquakes at their fingertips. The many seizmic sensors across the land light up as the waves propagate. A deep soundscape (hard to video) permeates the entire venue (a small concert hall) as the quakes strike.
I was lucky enough to help a tiny bit in the production of the textiles a few evenings. They did such an amazing job. I’m so proud.
If you’re in #reykjavik swing by Mengi this weekend to see it in action.
https://tilde.zone/@tomasino/112332579124731333
Johnson Unveils Modern Four Nine Team Conference Center
date: 2024-04-25, from: NASA breaking news
On April 10, 2024, Johnson Space Center celebrated the opening of the Four Nine Team conference center housed in building 419. The event marked the unveiling of a dynamic hub for Johnson employees, whether for team brainstorms, meetings with offsite companies, or remote work for those not typically onsite. During the open house, selected vendors […]
Yadea factory tour: The surprises I found at the world’s largest electric vehicle maker
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
I recently took a trip to China, where I had the opportunity to visit one of Yadea’s several global factories used to produce a wide range of light electric vehicle models and styles. As the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, it was a chance to see how the most popular forms of EVs – namely e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric three-wheelers, are built in sophisticated factories featuring high-level quality control processes. The experience was thoroughly eye-opening, and blew my expectations away!
NIO and Lotus announce plans to co-develop unified battery standards, charging, and swaps
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
Two big names in EVs announced a new strategic cooperation during the 2024 Beijing International Auto Show. Lotus Technology and NIO detailed plans to co-develop EV charging and battery swap technologies alongside wishes to create a unified battery standard system.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/nio-lotus-to-co-develop-unified-battery-standards-charging-swaps/
We’ve Made Some Changes To How Comments Work At InsideEVs
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Here’s why things are changing, and why we think you’re going to like what’s next.
https://insideevs.com/news/717470/comment-explainer-ievs-coral/
Nolan’s X-804 RS Ultra Flagship Racing Helment Is Ready For Action
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
It follows in the footsteps of the X-Lite X-803.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717233/nolan-x804-race-helmet-launched/
What’s up with the weak GDP growth?
date: 2024-04-25, from: Marketplace Morning Report
The U.S. economy grew by just 1.6% last quarter — falling very short of expectations. At the same time, inflation was up, according to the latest PCE. What’s the Federal Reserve’s next move? Plus, small businesses could see big productivity gains by collaborating with other firms, a McKinsey report shows.
https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-morning-report/whats-up-with-the-weak-gdp-growth
CASE shows off electric construction equipment in the UK [CIO interview]
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
CASE Construction Equipment broke new ground last week, when it became the first to deliver a certified sustainable product roadshow in the UK.
Fisker Ocean Extreme Gets Close To 300 Miles In Video Range Test
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
The driving range is considered “okay” but that’s mostly due to the large battery, as energy consumption could be better.
https://insideevs.com/news/717359/fisker-ocean-extreme-bjorn-range-test/
DARPA’s latest toy is a 20-foot, 12-ton tank that drives itself
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Crew entirely optional
DARPA has been working on off-road autonomous vehicles for decades, and now it has a combat-scale unmanned tank to show.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/darpa_autonomous_tank/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-04-25, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Harvey Weinstein’s Conviction Is Overturned.
https://politicalwire.com/2024/04/25/harvey-weinsteins-conviction-is-overturned/
City council audit trail is an audit fail after disastrous Oracle ERP rollout
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Europe’s largest local authority had no way of knowing if fraud took place
Birmingham City Council, Europe’s biggest local authority, has no way of knowing if financial fraud has been committed after it failed to run security and audit features in a new Oracle Fusion ERP system.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/birmingham_oracle_audit_trail/
CATL unveils world’s first LFP battery with 4C ultra-fast charging for 370-mi in 10 mins
date: 2024-04-25, from: Electrek Feed
A new EV battery that can add 370 miles (600 km) range in 10 minutes? China’s CATL introduced its new Shenxing Plus EV battery, capable of just that. CATL claims the new EV battery is the world’s first with 4C ultra-fast charging and +620 miles (1,000 km) CLTC range.
https://electrek.co/2024/04/25/catl-unveils-worlds-first-lfp-battery-4c-ultra-fast-charging/
KTM MotoGP Chief Says Pedro Acosta Isn’t Switching Teams
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Despite rumors, there are no plans on switching Acosta to KTM.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717353/ktm-motogp-pedro-acosta-gasgas-switch/
Does AI Know What an Apple Is? She Aims to Find Out.
date: 2024-04-25, from: Quanta Magazine
The computer scientist Ellie Pavlick is translating philosophical concepts such as “meaning” into concrete, testable ideas.The post Does AI Know What an Apple Is? She Aims to Find Out. first appeared on Quanta Magazine
https://www.quantamagazine.org/does-ai-know-what-an-apple-is-she-aims-to-find-out-20240425/
The only viable Android and iOS competitor intends to leave China and go global
date: 2024-04-25, from: OS News
Huawei plans to expand its native HarmonyOS smartphone platform worldwide, despite coming under US-led sanctions that have deprived it of access to key technologies. The Chinese tech megacorp released its own phone platform in 2019, the same year that US sanctions blocked Huawei from having further access to Google’s Android software to power its devices. More recently, the company saw its Mate 60 Pro smartphone become the top selling device in China’s huge consumer market, displacing rivals such as Apple’s iPhone. It also has a newer device, the Pura 70, that could pose a bigger threat to Apple sales in the country. ↫ Dan Robinson at The Register If there is one company that has the capabilities and will to truly offer a third alternative, it’s Huawei with HarmonyOS. This company has the full might of the Chinese state behind it, and it clearly has the drive to prove itself after the various sanctions levied against it in recent years that barred it from using Google’s Android. It’s obviously already experiencing major success in its home market, but now the company intends to go global, country by country, to positino HarmonyOS alongside iOS and Android. Huawei basically takes a brute-force approach, explaining that they identify the 5000 most popular applications, which they claim cover 99% of users’ time with their smartphones, and port those over first. I’m not entirely sure how they convince developers to port over their applications, but I’m guessing money is involved. Fair play, I would say – it’s not like anything else is going to break the stranglehold Apple and Google have over the mobile application market. We haven’t really spent much time talking about HarmonyOS in the west in general, and on OSNews in particular, which is a bit of a shame because it has some interesting characteristics. For instance, it has a multi-kernel design, where it uses the Linux kernel on more powerful devices like smartphones and tablets, and the RTOS LiteOS kernel on lower power IoT devices. DSoftBus is another interesting part of the operating system, which allows multiple devices to kind of join together and share data, applications, and control seamlessly. HarmonyOS supports both Android and true HarmonyOS applications, the latter of which are marked with a little logo in the corner of the application icon, but the unique features of HarmonyOS, like DSoftBus, are only accessible to true HarmonyOS applications. Developing these native applications can be done in DevEco Studio, which is built atop IntelliJ IDEA, using ArkUI. Huawei even went so far as to develop its own browser engine for HarmonyOS, which it recently released as open source, called ArkWeb. While HarmonyOS currently still supports running Android applications, this will soon no longer be the case as the company is working on HarmonyOS NEXT, which will remove Android compatibility to focus entirely on true HarmonyOS applications instead. NEXT also does away entirely with the multikernel approach, ditching both the Linux and LiteOS kernels for a new HarmonyOS microkernel, and uses Huawei’s own Cangjie programming language for application development. HarmonyOS NEXT is currently being tested on a variety of Huawei devices, with a beta and final release planned for later this year. It’s just our luck that the only potentially viable competitor to Android and iOS is a party closed-source operating system from China, which will surely bring with it a whole host of security concerns in the west. It’s really difficult at the moment to ascertain just how much of HarmonyOS – and specifically, HarmonyOS NEXT – is available as open source, which is a major bummer. I don’t think I’d ever want to use a (partly) closed source Chinese operating system for anything major in my life, but if it’s open source we could at least see non-Chinese forks that I’d find easier to trust. The road of iOS and Android competitors is littered with the bodies of failed attempts – Symbian, the various iterations of Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Sailfish, Ubuntu Touch, the GNOME/Plasma attempts that just can’t grow beyond proof of concepts – and there is no way to know if Huawei can pull off outside of China what it did with HarmonyOS inside China. Western markets are incredibly weary of anything related to Huawei, and for all we know, this operating system won’t ever even be allowed inside the US and the EU in the first place. Regardless of international politics and the CCP’s brutal, totalitarian, genocidal regime, HarmonyOS NEXT seems like a very interesting platform with fresh ideas, and I’d love to at least try it out once it hits international markets with proper localisation into English. I’ll take a problematic Chinese smartphone operating system competitor over no competitor at all – even if I won’t use it myself, it’ll be at least some form of competition both Apple and Google desperately need.
Palm OS and the devices that ran it
date: 2024-04-25, from: OS News
But just as smartphones would do, PDAs offered a dizzying array of operating systems and applications, and a great many of them ran Palm OS. (I bought my first Palm, an m505, new in 2001, upgrading from an HP 95LX.) Naturally, there’s no way we could enumerate every single such device in this article. So in this Ars retrospective, we’ll look back at some notable examples of the technical evolution of the Palm operating system and the devices that ran it—and how they paved the way for what we use now. ↫ Cameron Kaiser at Ars Technica This sure takes me back to my own in-depth Palm retrospective from – checks notes – 11 years ago (!). It turns out all the images from that article no longer load, so I should set aside some time to fix that up.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139434/palm-os-and-the-devices-that-ran-it/
‘Gaza Solidarity Occupation’ at USC, and the aftermath — live updates
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Protesters are gathered in Founders Park, demanding USC take action against “the genocide in Palestine.” The Daily Trojan is live on the ground.
The post ‘Gaza Solidarity Occupation’ at USC, and the aftermath — live updates appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/gaza-solidarity-occupation-to-at-alumni-park-live-updates/
SK hynix breaks Q1 revenue records on back of AI boom
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Memory biz ditches NAND production plans to make more crucial HBM tech
The global AI infrastructure buying frenzy is still in full swing – so much so that it has pushed the world’s second largest memory maker, SK hynix, into its second highest operating profit ever and an all-time high for Q1 revenues.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/sk_hynix_ai_hbm/
US growth slowed sharply last quarter to 1.6%, reflecting economy pressured by high rates
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
WASHINGTON — The nation’s economy slowed sharply last quarter to a 1.6% annual pace in the face of high interest rates, but consumers — the main driver of economic growth — kept spending at a solid pace.
Thursday’s report from the Commerce Department said the gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — decelerated in the January-March quarter from its brisk 3.4% growth rate in the final three months of 2023.
A surge in imports, which are subtracted from GDP, reduced first-quarter growth by nearly 1 percentage point. Growth was also held back by businesses reducing their inventories. Both those categories tend to fluctuate sharply from quarter to quarter.
By contrast, the core components of the economy still appear sturdy. Along with households, businesses helped drive the economy last quarter with a strong pace of investment.
The import and inventory numbers can be volatile, so “there is still a lot of positive underlying momentum,’’ said Paul Ashworth, chief North America economist at Capital Economics.
The economy, though, is still creating price pressures, a continuing source of concern for the Federal Reserve. A measure of inflation in Friday’s report accelerated to a 3.4% annual rate from January through March, up from 1.8% in the last three months of 2023 and the biggest increase in a year. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core inflation rose at a 3.7% rate, up from 2% in fourth-quarter 2023.
From January through March, consumer spending rose at a 2.5% annual rate, a solid pace though down from a rate of more than 3% in each of the previous two quarters. Americans’ spending on services — everything from movie tickets and restaurant meals to airline fares and doctors’ visits — rose 4%, the fastest such pace since mid-2021.
But they cut back spending on goods such as appliances and furniture. Spending on that category fell 0.1%, the first such drop since the summer of 2022.
The state of the U.S. economy has seized Americans’ attention as the election season has intensified. Although inflation has slowed sharply from a peak of 9.1% in 2022, prices remain well above their pre-pandemic levels.
Republican critics of President Joe Biden have sought to pin responsibility for high prices on Biden and use it as a cudgel to derail his re-election bid. And polls show that despite the healthy job market, a near-record-high stock market and the sharp pullback in inflation, many Americans blame Biden for high prices.
Last quarter’s GDP snapped a streak of six straight quarters of at least 2% annual growth. The 1.6% rate of expansion was also the slowest since the economy actually shrank in the first and second quarters of 2022.
The economy’s gradual slowdown reflects, in large part, the much higher borrowing rates for home and auto loans, credit cards and many business loans that have resulted from the 11 interest rate hikes the Fed imposed in its drive to tame inflation.
Even so, the United States has continued to outpace the rest of the world’s advanced economies. The International Monetary Fund has projected that the world’s largest economy will grow 2.7% for all of 2024, up from 2.5% last year and more than double the growth the IMF expects this year for Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Businesses have been pouring money into factories, warehouses and other buildings, encouraged by federal incentives to manufacture computer chips and green technology in the United States. On the other hand, their spending on equipment has been weak. And as imports outpace exports, international trade is also thought to have been a drag on the economy’s first-quarter growth.
Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing director, cautioned last week that the “flipside″ of strong U.S. economic growth was that it was”taking longer than expected” for inflation to reach the Fed’s 2% target, although price pressures have sharply slowed from their mid-2022 peak.
Inflation flared up in the spring of 2021 as the economy rebounded with unexpected speed from the COVID-19 recession, causing severe supply shortages. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 made things significantly worse by inflating prices for the energy and grains the world depends on.
The Fed responded by aggressively raising its benchmark rate between March 2022 and July 2023. Despite widespread predictions of a recession, the economy has proved unexpectedly durable. Hiring so far this year is even stronger than it was in 2023. And unemployment has remained below 4% for 26 straight months, the longest such streak since the 1960s.
Inflation, the main source of Americans’ discontent about the economy, has slowed from 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.5%. But progress has stalled lately.
Though the Fed’s policymakers signaled last month that they expect to cut rates three times this year, they have lately signaled that they’re in no hurry to reduce rates in the face of continued inflationary pressure. Now, a majority of Wall Street traders don’t expect them to start until the Fed’s September meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
This Wild EV-Enduro Was Built By Some of the Biggest Names in the Game
date: 2024-04-25, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
It’s based on the Fantic XEF, and swaps out the gas engine for an electric motor.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/717214/fantic-lizcat-xe1-electric-enduro/
New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
date: 2024-04-25, from: VOA News USA
NEW YORK — New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
“We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes,” the court’s 4-3 decision said. “The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial.”
The state Court of Appeals ruling reopens a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures — an era that began in 2017 with a flood of allegations against Weinstein. His accusers could again be forced to relive their traumas on the witness stand.
The court’s majority said “it is an abuse of judicial discretion to permit untested allegations of nothing more than bad behavior that destroys a defendant’s character but sheds no light on their credibility as related to the criminal charges lodged against them.”
In a stinging dissent, Judge Madeline Singas wrote that the majority was “whitewashing the facts to conform to a he-said/she-said narrative,” and said the Court of Appeals was continuing a “disturbing trend of overturning juries’ guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence.”
“The majority’s determination perpetuates outdated notions of sexual violence and allows predators to escape accountability,” Singas wrote.
Weinstein, 72, has been serving a 23-year sentence in a New York prison following his conviction on charges of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013.
He will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Weinstein was acquitted in Los Angeles on charges involving one of the women who testified in New York.
Weinstein’s lawyers argued Judge James Burke’s rulings in favor of the prosecution turned the trial into “1-800-GET-HARVEY.”
The reversal of Weinstein’s conviction is the second major #MeToo setback in the last two years, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a Pennsylvania court decision to throw out Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction.
Weinstein’s conviction stood for more than four years, heralded by activists and advocates as a milestone achievement, but dissected just as quickly by his lawyers and, later, the Court of Appeals when it heard arguments on the matter in February.
Allegations against Weinstein, the once powerful and feared studio boss behind such Oscar winners as “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love,” ushered in the #MeToo movement. Dozens of women came forward to accuse Weinstein, including famous actresses such as Ashley Judd and Uma Thurman. His New York trial drew intense publicity, with protesters chanting “rapist” outside the courthouse.
Weinstein is incarcerated in New York at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Albany.
He maintains his innocence. He contends any sexual activity was consensual.
Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala argued before the appeals court in February that Burke swayed the trial by allowing three women to testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case and by giving prosecutors permission to confront Weinstein, if he had testified, about his long history of brutish behavior.
Aidala argued the extra testimony went beyond the normally allowable details about motive, opportunity, intent or a common scheme or plan, and essentially put Weinstein on trial for crimes he wasn’t charged with.
Weinstein wanted to testify, but opted not to because Burke’s ruling would’ve meant answering questions about more than two-dozen alleged acts of misbehavior dating back four decades, Aidala said. They included fighting with his movie producer brother, flipping over a table in anger and snapping at waiters and yelling at his assistants.
“We had a defendant who was begging to tell his side of the story. It’s a he said, she said case, and he’s saying ‘that’s not how it happened. Let me tell you how I did it,’” Aidala argued. Instead, the jurors heard evidence of Weinstein’s prior bad behavior that “had nothing to do with truth and veracity. It was all ‘he’s a bad guy.’”
Aidala also took issue with Burke’s refusal to remove a juror who had written a novel involving predatory older men, a topic the defense lawyer argued too closely resembled the issues in Weinstein’s case.
A lawyer for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, argued that the judge’s rulings were proper and that the extra evidence and testimony he allowed was important to provide jurors context about Weinstein’s behavior and the way he interacted with women.
“Defendant’s argument was that they had a consensual and loving relationship both before and after the charged incidents,” Appellate Chief Steven Wu argued, referring to one of the women Weinstein was charged with assaulting. The additional testimony “just rebutted that characterization completely.”
Wu said Weinstein’s acquittal on the most serious charges — two counts of predatory sexual assault and a first-degree rape charge involving actor Annabella Sciorra’s allegations of a mid-1990s rape — showed jurors were paying attention and they were not confused or overwhelmed by the additional testimony.
The Associated Press does not generally identify people alleging sexual assault unless they consent to be named; Sciorra has spoken publicly about her allegations.
The Court of Appeals agreed last year to take Weinstein’s case after an intermediate appeals court upheld his conviction. Prior to their ruling, judges on the lower appellate court had raised doubts about Burke’s conduct during oral arguments. One observed that Burke had let prosecutors pile on with “incredibly prejudicial testimony” from additional witnesses.
Burke’s term expired at the end of 2022. He was not reappointed and is no longer a judge.
In appealing, Weinstein’s lawyers sought a new trial, but only for the criminal sexual act charge. They argued the rape charge could not be retried because it involves alleged conduct outside the statute of limitations.
Washington State High Schooler Wins 2024 NASA Student Art Contest
date: 2024-04-25, from: NASA breaking news
A 12th grade artist with a passion for NASA and space took home the top prize for the 2024 NASA Student Art Contest, a nationwide competition hosted by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Esther Lee, of Washington State, was selected as the grand prize winner for her submission “Beyond Imagination,” which depicts a […]
Russia, Iran pose most aggressive threat to 2024 elections, say infoseccers
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Google security crew reveal ‘the four Ds’ to be on the watch for
It may come as a surprise to absolutely nobody that experts say, in revealing the most prevalent and likely tactics to meddle with elections this year, that state-sponsored cybercriminals pose the biggest threat.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/04/25/mandiant_russia_and_iran_pose/
The 2025 Polestar 4 Goes On Sale In The U.S. Starting At $56,300
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
Yes, it’s the one without a rear window. Oh, and the top trim with all the bells and whistles goes for $74,300. Tempted?
https://insideevs.com/news/717398/2025-polestar-4-sale-us-price-deliveries/
Android TVs Can Expose User Email Inboxes
date: 2024-04-25, from: 404 Media Group
An attacker requires physical access, but it’s possible to sideload Chrome onto some Android TVs which then gives access to the users’ email inbox. Google says it’s now fixing the issue.
https://www.404media.co/android-tvs-can-expose-user-email-inboxes/
Tesla Battery Energy Storage Deployment Hit 4 GWh In Q1 2024
date: 2024-04-25, from: Inside EVs News
At the same time, solar deployment decreased so much that the company stopped reporting it.
https://insideevs.com/news/717344/tesla-battery-energy-storage-deployment-2024q1/
Meta’s value plummets as Zuckerberg admits AI needs more time and money
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Revenues up, but is the AI hype bubble is threatening to burst?
Meta’s shares tumbled after company boss Mark Zuckerberg said the quiet bit out loud: it will take a while before AI bets start paying back the huge financial investments it is making.…
What Does Milk Do for Babies?
date: 2024-04-25, from: Quanta Magazine
Human nutrition begins with milk, but the wondrous biofluid does much more than feed babies. In this episode, co-host Steven Strogatz speaks with molecular nutritionist Elizabeth Johnson about her research into the impact of human milk on a healthy microbiome.The post What Does Milk Do for Babies? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-does-milk-do-for-babies-20240425/
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/
Biden’s Big Energy Moves
date: 2024-04-25, from: Heatmap News
Current conditions: Heavy rains this spring have reinvigorated the drought-stricken wetlands at Spain’s Doñana National Park • Severe thunderstorms are taking shape above the central and southern U.S. • Flooding in Kenya kills at least 32 people and displaces over 40,000.
THE TOP FIVE
- EPA releases final power plant rules
The Environmental Protection Agency finalized its power plant emissions limits on Thursday, imposing the first federal standards on carbon pollution from the electricity sector since the Obama administration’s unsuccessful 2015 Clean Power Plan. “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,” Heatmap’s Emily Pontecorvo reports. The EPA will also severely limit carbon emissions from coal plants based on when they’re supposed to retire — a potential “death blow” to the already embattled industry, The New York Times reports — and from other new gas plants based on how much of the time they’re expected to run. Though the final rule exempts existing gas plants from the carbon capture requirements (at least for now), it could force utilities to rethink plans to rely heavily on new gas plants over the coming years as they move away from coal. The EPA expects the regulations to keep almost 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere through 2047 — assuming they survive the inevitable legal challenges.
- Biden administration boosts transmission
The Department of Energy also unveiled on Thursday a few initiatives to expand the electric grid. “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,” Heatmap’s Matthew Zeitlin writes. The DOE announced up to $331 million in funding for the $1 billion Southwest Intertie Project-North transmission project. The agency also said it was establishing a Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorization and Permits program to streamline the regulatory process for federal projects. And it introduced a plan to expedite environmental reviews for upgrades to existing transmission lines.
- American Lung Association releases grim air quality report
More than one-third of people in the United States now live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of the Air report. The number of people exposed to harmful amounts of ozone and particulate matter has risen to 131.2 million, an increase of 11.7 million from 2023. And more people are experiencing days with “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” air quality than the country has seen in decades. The report cited the worsening heat, drought, and wildfires caused by climate change, along with heightened federal air quality standards for fine particle pollution, to explain this year’s higher numbers. “Climate change is causing more dangerous air pollution. … We must do more to ensure everyone has clean air,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, in a statement.
California once again dominated the list of counties with the worst air quality, with San Bernardino County ranking highest for ozone, and Kern and Mono counties coming in first for short-term and year-round ozone pollution, respectively.
- The electric grid is overburdened by climate change
Climate change is driving an uptick in weather-related power outages, a new report from Climate Central finds. Weather was responsible for 80% of major U.S. power outages between 2000 and 2023. Thanks to climate change straining the country’s aging electric grid, the U.S. saw roughly twice as many weather-related outages over the last decade compared with 2000–2009. Severe weather, winter storms, and tropical storms were the most common culprits, followed by extreme heat and wildfires. “We’re seeing that the warming is having a direct impact on severe weather,” Jen Brady, a report author and senior data analyst at Climate Central, told The Guardian. “The conditions that our infrastructure was built to handle are much different [now] than what they were.”
- New York doubles down on offshore wind
New York is looking to bounce back from a dismal week for offshore wind with an accelerated timeline to secure contracts for new projects. Following the recent demise of all three of the conditional offshore wind contracts the state awarded to offshore wind developers last October, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a request for information for New York’s next offshore wind solicitation, which is now expected to take place this summer. Hochul’s office also advanced plans to distribute $200 million among offshore wind infrastructure and manufacturing facilities under a $500 million state program aimed at developing the state’s offshore wind supply chain. “New York is solidifying its leadership role in the offshore wind industry,” Hochul said in a statement.
THE KICKER
Chinese automaker BYD is expected to debut its first electrified pickup truck, “Shark,” today at the Beijing Auto Show:
BYD
https://heatmap.news/economy/bidens-big-energy-moves
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/
The Iran-Israel War Is Just Getting Started
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: RAND blog
While the war between Israel and Iran has been mostly covert for years, it has come out of the shadows since Hamas’s October 7th attacks. If the United States and Europe want to prevent a regional war from breaking out in the Middle East they will need to convince Iran to rein in its proxies and to do something about its nuclear program. Otherwise, the conflict will continue to spiral.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/04/the-iran-israel-war-is-just-getting-started.html
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.
Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Alumni Park
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
More than 90 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/
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
The LAUSD Board Election Could Shake Things Up This Fall. Here Are Key Issues
date: 2024-04-25, updated: 2024-04-25, from: The LAist
One incumbent, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, already held on to her District 7 seat. 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/
My favorite books for tech writers
date: 2024-04-25, from: Blog by Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti
Recommending books for technical writers that aren’t old technical manuals is hard. There are very few books on the craft of technical writing, a shortage that I find sharply ironic for a writers’ profession like ours. When I became a tech writer, the books that helped me the most were about other topics that make up the job, like English language, design, and the programmer’s mind. Let me share them with you.
https://passo.uno/best-tech-writing-books/
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/
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, manufacturing, and 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 growing investment in renewable energy, power generation is responsible for about a quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The Biden administration is guaranteed to face legal challenges from Republican attorneys general and electric utilities. The Edison Electric Institute, the largest trade group for electric utilities, asserted that carbon capture “is not yet ready for full-scale, economy-wide deployment” and expressed worry over the timelines for permitting and financing. Duke Energy, one of the Southeast’s largest utilities, issued a statement after the rule came out saying that it “presents significant challenges to customer reliability and affordability – as well as limits the potential of our ability to be a global leader in chips, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing,” echoing concerns from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The EPA, however, 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 regulations 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.” EPA officials offered no new details on the timeline on Wednesday.
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.
The agency projects the new standards 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 far less than 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.
These standards are certain to lead to more plant closures, but 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.
Whether that coming demand is real or inflated is a matter of debate. But regardless, clean energy researchers and advocates dispute the idea that gas plants are needed for reliability.
“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 simple cycle but can’t ramp up and down as quickly or easily.
Utilities with recently hatched plans to build simple 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 [simple cycle], they’re not as significant as sources of CO2.”
But those utilities that are 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 exposed.
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.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect statements
from Duke Energy and trade groups.
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 power of youth voting will significantly impact the future of our democracy.
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/
[ENG/ESP] ’Esa es mi bandera’: Latin pride prevails at Coachella 2024
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
Latine influence was ever-present at this year’s mega-festival in Indio.
The post [ENG/ESP] ’Esa es mi bandera’: Latin pride prevails at Coachella 2024 appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/25/eng-esp-esa-es-mi-bandera-latin-pride-prevails-at-coachella-2024/
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/
In Photos: LAPD cracks down on student protests for Gaza
date: 2024-04-25, from: The Daily Trojan (USC Student Paper)
By the end of the demonstration, police arrested 93 protesters for “trespassing.”
The post In Photos: LAPD cracks down on student protests for Gaza appeared first on Daily Trojan.
https://dailytrojan.com/2024/04/24/in-photos-lapd-cracks-down-on-student-protests-for-gaza/
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 $6.4B, 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 .
pgmoneta 0.11
date: 2024-04-25, from: PostgreSQL News
The pgmoneta community is happy to announce version 0.11.0.
New features
- Hot standby
- Improved tracking of timelines
- Rate limit for network and disk
- Improve Prometheus metrics
- Support for MacOS
pgmoneta
pgmoneta is a backup / restore solution for PostgreSQL 13+.
Read our getting started guide to setup pgmoneta for your backup needs.
Features
- Full backup
- Restore
- Compression (gzip, zstd, lz4, bzip2)
- AES encryption support
- Symlink support
- WAL shipping support
- Prometheus support
- Remote management
- Offline mode
- Transport Layer Security (TLS) v1.2+ support
- Daemon mode
- User vault
Learn more on our web site or GitHub. Follow on Twitter.
pgmoneta is released under the 3-clause BSD license.
https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/pgmoneta-011-2848/
Getting Started with Miranda
date: 2024-04-25, from: Robert’s Ramblings
I’ve been interested in exploring the Miranda programming language. It’s a language influenced Haskell which has been used for programs I use almost daily such as Pandoc and shellcheck. I’ve given a quick review of miranda.org.uk to get a sense of the language but to follow along with the Miranda: The Craft of Functional Programming it is really helpful to have Miranda available on my machine. Today that machine is a Mac Mini, M1 processor, running macOS Sonoma (14.4.x) and the related Xcode C tool chain. I ran into to minor hiccups in compilation and installation. Both easy to overcome but ones I will surely forget in the future. Thus I write myself another blog post.
First down load Miranda source code at http://miranda.org.uk/downloads. The version 2.066 is the most recent release I saw linked (2024-04-25), http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/people/staff/dat/ccount/click.php?id=11. The COPYING link shows the terms under which this source release is made available.
Next you need to untar/gzip the tarball you downloaded. Try running
make to see if it compiles. On my Mac Mini I got a compile
error that looks like
make
gcc -w -c -o data.o data.c
data.c:666:43: error: incompatible integer to pointer conversion passing 'word' (aka 'long') to parameter of type 'char *' [-Wint-conversion]
else fprintf(f,"%c%s",HERE_X,mkrel(hd[x]));
^~~~~
1 error generated.
make: *** [data.o] Error 1While I’m rusty on C I read this as the C compiler being more strict today then it was back in the 1990s. That’s a good thing generally. Next I checked the compiler version. …
https://rsdoiel.github.io/blog/2024/04/25/getting-started.html