News gathered 2024-05-21
(date: 2024-05-21 08:34:17)
Microsoft extends reach of Copilot AI helpers
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Assistive software is being modified to exchange data with different services
At Microsoft, “it’s Copilots all the way down for us.”…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/microsoft_extends_reach_of_copilot/
Unlock a new era of innovation with Windows Copilot Runtime and Copilot+ PCs
date: 2024-05-21, from: Windows Developer Blog
I am excited to be back at Build with the developer community this year. <span data-ccp-props=“{”20
The post Unlock a new era of innovation with Windows Copilot Runtime and Copilot+ PCs appeared first on Windows Developer Blog.
Tesla plans to ramp up Tesla Semi deliveries to PepsiCo
date: 2024-05-21, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla is planning to ramp up Tesla Semi deliveries to PepsiCo, its main customer, ahead of the electric semi truck’s volume production.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/21/tesla-plans-ramp-up-tesla-semi-deliveries-to-pepsico/
Niles: I’d rather wait in line than use Disney’s virtual queue
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The system for allocating spots on popular attractions frequently devolves into a game of random chance.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/21/niles-id-rather-wait-in-line-than-use-disneys-virtual-queue/
Welcome Back to Planet Earth, Expedition 70 Crew!
date: 2024-05-21, from: NASA breaking news
On May 16, 2024, a crowd of more than 500 people gathered at Space Center Houston’s IMAX theater for the Expedition 70 crew debrief and awards ceremony. Crew members from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 and Soyuz MS-24 missions shared reflections from their voyage aboard the International Space Station and bestowed well-deserved recognition upon Johnson Space Center employees and partners […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/welcome-back-to-planet-earth-expedition-70-crew/
Korean American dance group celebrates middle-aged women
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
Middle-aged women often feel like they are not seen or heard in their roles as wives and mothers. In Southern California, a Korean dance group is out to change those perceptions. Genia Dulot has the story.
https://www.voanews.com/a/korean-american-dance-group-celebrates-middle-aged-women/7620976.html
How air turbulence creates danger in the skies
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
Experts say it is extremely unlikely that most flights will result in injury or damage, but there have been numerous recent incidents in which this has occurred. Understanding what causes turbulence can help air crew and passengers mitigate its impact.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/21/how-air-turbulence-creates-danger-in-the-skies/
Scarlett Johansson says she is ‘shocked, angered’ over new ChatGPT voice
date: 2024-05-21, from: OS News
Lawyers for Scarlett Johansson are demanding that OpenAI disclose how it developed an AI personal assistant voice that the actress says sounds uncannily similar to her own. Johansson’s legal team has sent OpenAI two letters asking the company to detail the process by which it developed a voice the tech company dubbed “Sky,” Johansson’s publicist told NPR in a revelation that has not been previously reported. ↫ Bobby Allyn at NPR This story highlights just how much disdain techbros have for the work of creative people. Here’s the timeline: Techbros like Sam Altman deeply despise and undervalue the work of creatives, believing human creativity to be merely an equation to be solved, definable by an algorithm. To people like him, creative work has no value, and as such, is up for grabs to be taken and cut up for his algorithms to spit out as “new” works. This story highlights this perfectly. The sleaze runs deep with Altman and OpenAI.
One dead and 30 injured after severe turbulence hits flight out of London
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The Boeing 777-300ER plane diverted to Bangkok. The airline said 211 passengers and 18 crew were on board.
Prepare your audits: EU Commission approves first-of-its-kind AI Act
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
‘High-risk’ AIs will have hoops to jump through if they want to keep doing business in Europe
The EU Council has given final approval to the bloc’s landmark AI Act, setting the stage for enactment of a benchmark first-of-its-kind AI law across Europe. …
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/prepare_your_audits_eu_commission/
What two companies can tell us about two corners of the economy
date: 2024-05-21, from: Marketplace Morning Report
On Wednesday, we get glimpses of two very different ends of the economy: Both retailer Target and AI chipmaker Nvidia report earnings. One lives in the world of consumers facing high interest rates, while the other occupies the sphere of cutting edge technology. What can we anticipate? Then, caregiving is a major factor behind the rise of multigenerational households in the U.S. We’ll hear from one family who came to live together.
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These Are the ‘Extensive Online Threats’ the University of Texas Sent to Cops About Palestine Protests
date: 2024-05-21, from: 404 Media Group
These three Instagram posts were sent to police as examples of the “extensive online threats” of groups organizing pro-Palestinian protests where more than 100 students were arrested.
Hunger for more HBM capacity could cause shortage DRAM-a
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Analyst warns of another unfortunate side effect of AI
Industry preference for high bandwidth memory (HBM) has the potential to cause a DRAM supply shortage unless more manufacturing lines are built quickly, TrendForce is warning.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/hbm_demand_factory_expansion/
Chase Carlson of Dos Pueblos Scores Game-Winning Goal in Overtime at Channel League All Star Game
date: 2024-05-21, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The first ever Channel League Boys’ Lacrosse All Star Game was held at Peabody Stadium on Monday night
The post Chase Carlson of Dos Pueblos Scores Game-Winning Goal in Overtime at Channel League All Star Game appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Tuesday’s primaries include presidential races and prosecutor in Trump’s Georgia election case
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
Bohdan Troschynsky pushed to project branch bohdan at Felix Oliver Friedrich / Oberon A2
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: Oberon A2 at CAS
Bohdan Troschynsky (5a896958) at 21 May 16:38
added processing of mouse clicks
https://gitlab.inf.ethz.ch/felixf/oberon/-/commit/5a89695824bea9113447b06d377703700c6d0efc
Daily Deals (5-21-2024)
date: 2024-05-21, from: Liliputing
A new Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED laptop with a Snapdragon X Elite processor is set to launch soon for $1300 and up. But if you can live without Microsoft’s new Copilot+ PC features, you can pick up a very similar laptop for just over half the price. Walmart is selling a Vivobook S 15 OLED […]
The post Daily Deals (5-21-2024) appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/daily-deals-5-21-2024/
Elon Musk Doubles Down On Demand For 25% Of Tesla, Or Else
date: 2024-05-21, from: Inside EVs News
Plus, Nissan pauses all work on its next-gen electric sedans and consumers want more safety at EV chargers.
https://insideevs.com/news/720406/musk-25-percent-tesla-control/
Saratoga Foothill Club honors veterans for 97th year
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
Memorial Day celebration set for Blaney Plaza.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/21/saratoga-foothill-club-celebrates-veterans-for-97th-year/
Scientists Uncover the Ancient Origins of Baobab Trees in Genetic Study
date: 2024-05-21, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The trees originated in Madagascar 21 million years ago but later traveled long distances by way of ocean currents, according to new research
California’s median home price crosses $900,000 threshold
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
It was only March 2022 when the median crossed the $800,000 for the first time.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/21/californias-median-home-price-crosses-900000-threshold/
Los Gatos High School names second new assistant principal
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The former teacher will join two new administrative hires.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/21/los-gatos-high-school-names-second-new-assistant-principal/
Yamaha Patents Anti-Dive Electronic Motorcycle Suspension
date: 2024-05-21, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Squat and dive controls would be neat on an R1…
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720308/yamaha-anti-dive-motorcycle-suspsension/
Los Gatos Thrives Foundation seeks input on new community center
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
Project set to be discussed at June 20 meeting.
Electric ‘Ripples’ in the Resting Brain Tag Memories for Storage
date: 2024-05-21, from: Quanta Magazine
New experiments reveal how the brain chooses which memories to save and add credence to advice about the importance of rest.The post Electric ‘Ripples’ in the Resting Brain Tag Memories for Storage first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Liv Plourdes of San Marcos Scores Game Winning Goal at Channel League Girls Lacrosse All Star Game
date: 2024-05-21, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The white team overcame an 11-2 deficit.
The post Liv Plourdes of San Marcos Scores Game Winning Goal at Channel League Girls Lacrosse All Star Game appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Ebikes stolen from Los Gatos High School
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
Several vehicle thefts also reported in town.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/21/ebikes-stolen-from-los-gatos-high-school/
Nissan to launch a new Rogue-like electric SUV, but production delays continue
date: 2024-05-21, from: Electrek Feed
A new electric crossover SUV, similar to Nissan’s Rogue Sport, will roll out in the US. The Nissan Rogue-like electric SUV will be the company’s fifth EV to be built at its Canton, Miss plant. Meanwhile, Nissan is delaying EV production (again) after putting a $500 million investment on hold.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/21/nissan-launching-new-rogue-like-electric-suv-but/
NASA Leaders to Host Agency Town Hall on Artificial Intelligence
date: 2024-05-21, from: NASA breaking news
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy are hosting an employee town hall at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 22, to discuss how the agency is using and developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to advance missions and research. The event will steam live on NASA+, NASA Television, and the agency’s website. The town […]
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-leaders-to-host-agency-town-hall-on-artificial-intelligence/
Driver dead following fiery crash in Fremont
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The crash happened about 12:30 a.m.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/21/driver-dead-following-fiery-crash-in-fremont/
Get Ready To Welcome TVS Motors, Italy
date: 2024-05-21, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Italians are one step closer to having a range of TVS machines on their doorsteps to keep commuting fun and affordable.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720334/tvs-launches-production-italy/
2025 Rivian R1S And R1T To Get LFP Battery And Heat Pump: Leaked Doc
date: 2024-05-21, from: Inside EVs News
Rivian says the new standard battery pack will offer up to 405 miles of range in the city and 339 miles on the highway.
https://insideevs.com/news/720396/2025-rivian-r1s-r1t-lfp-battery-heat-pump/
55 years ago, Apollo 10’s crew turned the airwaves blue
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Shockingly, astronauts can curse when in high-stress situations
It has been 55 years since Apollo 10 slipped into lunar orbit. The mission? To rehearse nearly every part of Apollo 11’s landing except the part where it would actually land.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/55_years_apollo_11/
Learning how to use AI could boost your pay by 25%, study finds
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
Wages for AI-related roles were on average 25% higher in the United States than for comparable jobs in the same field that did not require those skills.
A company in Japan is offering unlimited EV charging nationwide for under $20 a month
date: 2024-05-21, from: Electrek Feed
As Japan looks to make all new passenger vehicle sales 100% electric by 2035, local companies are pulling demand levers to help expedite the process. One of those companies is ENECHANGE, which has just introduced a new unlimited flat-rate EV charging subscription that will be available to drivers throughout Japan.
University Suspends Students for AI Homework Tool It Gave Them $10,000 Prize to Make
date: 2024-05-21, from: 404 Media Group
Emory University gave students a $10,000 entrepreneurial prize for their AI startup, then suspended them and accused them of cheating when they built it.
This Chinese Motorcycle Could Be the Next Big Triple
date: 2024-05-21, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
So many OEMs are missing a trick by not having a triple in their lineups.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720328/zontes-703rr-starting-production/
Private equity offer for MariaDB gets thumbsup from shareholders
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
From SPAC and back as 68% say yes
MariaDB shareholders have backed a private equity takeover offer for the troubled database vendor.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/private_equity_offer_for_mariadb/
NASA “Wildfire Digital Twin” Pioneers New AI Models and Streaming Data Techniques for Forecasting Fire and Smoke
date: 2024-05-21, from: NASA breaking news
NASA’s “Wildfire Digital Twin” project will equip firefighters and wildfire managers with a superior tool for monitoring wildfires and predicting harmful air pollution events and help researchers observe global wildfire trends more precisely.
ASML could brick Taiwan’s chipmaking machines in case of uninvited guests
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
If I can’t have you, then no one will!
Chipmaking equipment supplier ASML reportedly has the means to remotely disable its advanced machinery in the hands of TSMC, should China invade Taiwan.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/asml_kill_switch/
Mitsubishi Reveals U.S. Expansion Plan With Outdoorsy Plug-In Vehicles
date: 2024-05-21, from: Inside EVs News
The Japanese automaker doesn’t sell too many vehicles in the US, but it plans to change that with plug-in models that can go off-road.
https://insideevs.com/news/720327/mitsubishi-2030-plug-in-plan/
We drove the 500hp electric Arc Sport and holy heck, this thing rips
date: 2024-05-21, from: Electrek Feed
Arc has built the first models of its much-anticipated Arc Sport 500hp electric wake boat, and we got a chance to take it for a quick demo in Long Beach, CA and holy heck, this thing rips.
Samsung to expand chip output from Texas
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
The Biden administration last month announced $6.4 billion in direct funding to back South Korean tech giant Samsung’s new semiconductor cluster in central Texas. That means big changes for the town of Taylor. Deana Mitchell has our story
https://www.voanews.com/a/samsung-to-expand-chip-output-from-texas/7620781.html
@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed (date: 2024-05-21, from: Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed)
This changes my summer
plans
https://nileane.fr/@nileane/112479061473659917
https://mastodon.social/@Migueldeicaza/112479158049194964
Spain Will Let Motorcyclists Use the Shoulder To Decrease Traffic
date: 2024-05-21, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Is the US lagging when it comes to forward-thinking legislation for motorcyclists?
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720319/spain-hard-shoulder-motorcyclists/
Good news: The iPad Pro 13 is a bit more repairable
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Bad news? The Apple Pencil Pro is not
The Apple iPad Pro 13 has a secret lurking within its sleek lines. A battery that is not nightmarishly hard to replace. Relatively.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/good_news_the_ipad_pro/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-21, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
March 2024: Why we're lucky WordPress is here.
http://scripting.com/2024/03/21/125505.html
Why Yes, You Can Jump a Jetski Off a Dirt Bike Ramp
date: 2024-05-21, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Safety….seventh?
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720321/travis-pastrana-jet-boy-jetski-jump-dirt-bike-ramp/
Jolla’s Sailfish OS is moving to a subscription model, new phone (and a privacy-focused AI device) coming soon
date: 2024-05-21, from: Liliputing
The company behind the Linux-based Sailfish OS for mobile devices has undergone some big changes in recent years. Jolla’s founders announced in December that they had bought back the company and its assets, and now they’re laying out some big plans for the future. First, the company is dividing the operating system into two parts: […]
The post Jolla’s Sailfish OS is moving to a subscription model, new phone (and a privacy-focused AI device) coming soon appeared first on Liliputing.
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-21, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Robert Alexander wants to build an open network of OPML blogrolls.
https://mastodon.social/@robalex@indieweb.social
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-21, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Which newsrooms are doing a good job of in-house technical and product innovation?
https://mastodon.social/@ben@werd.social/112478915914925493
In Houston, storm damage recovery and insurance hurdles
date: 2024-05-21, from: Marketplace Morning Report
Houston residents are once again rebuilding after a severe windstorm delivered damage to cars, businesses and homes last week. Insurers are just beginning to assess the extent of the damage — at a time when insurance is getting pricier and harder to find. Then, the FDIC’s chair says he will step down once a successor is confirmed following investigations into toxic culture at the agency. Plus, can legislation save local news?
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Nutanix starts thinking outside the VM – with extra help from Dell
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Brings its storage stack to AWS’s EKS but still has time to improve its hypervisor
NEXT Nutanix used its annual NEXT conference to reveal it has started thinking outside the VM by making its storage stack available as a native service on Amazon Web Services’ Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS).…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/nutanix_eks_dell/
Watch a Three-Wheeler Go Head-to-Head With a Four-Wheeler and Nearly Flip
date: 2024-05-21, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
Are three wheels more fun than four?
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720313/three-wheeler-vs-atv-video-shred-eighty/
It’s Getting Hot in Houston. Thousands Are Without Power.
date: 2024-05-21, from: Heatmap News
Current conditions: Schools are closed in Delhi due to intense heat • A freak storm dropped fist-sized hail stones on a city in northern Poland • Forecasters are expecting more tornadoes in the Midwest today.
THE TOP FIVE
- Houston power outages persist as temperatures soar
Many households remain without power in Houston after the severe storms that tore through the area last Thursday. About 150,000 people were still waiting for the lights to come back on as of Monday night, and the weather is getting hot, with temperatures lingering around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the heat index nearing 100F. Anyone without access to power and air conditioning is suffering. The city has opened dozens of cooling centers to help provide relief. The region’s power provider, CenterPoint Energy, said it expects restoration efforts to continue into Wednesday.
- Tesla shareholder group targets Musk pay package
A group of Tesla shareholders including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, SOC Investment Group, Amalgamated Bank, and others, have written to company investors urging them to vote against CEO Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package next month, The Wall Street Journal reported. “Even as Tesla’s performance is floundering, the board has yet to ensure that Tesla has a full-time CEO who is adequately focused on the long-term sustainable success of our company,” the shareholder group wrote. Shareholders will vote at the company’s annual meeting on June 13 on whether to re-ratify Musk’s 2018 pay package, which a judge voided in January. The letter also says shareholders should not vote to re-elect board members Kimbal Musk (Elon’s brother) and James Murdoch (Elon’s friend), suggesting they are too closely tied to the CEO.
- Battery fire at California energy storage site finally extinguished
A fire at a battery storage site in San Diego County appears to have been extinguished after burning on and off for multiple days and nights, reported Heatmap’s Matthew Zeitlin. “There is no visible smoke or active fire at the scene,” Cal Fire, the state fire protection agency, said in an update yesterday. The fire started sometime Wednesday at the Gateway Energy Storage facility, a 250 megawatt battery electric storage system in Otay Mesa, which is immediately adjacent both to the eastern border of San Diego and to the northern border of Mexico and near the Richard J. Donovan state prison facility. Fires have been a recurring problem for the battery electric storage industry, which may be one reason why, according to Heatmap polling, it is the form of carbon-free power least popular with the general public.
Get Heatmap AM directly in your inbox every morning:
- Pope calls climate change a ‘road to death’
Pope Francis has called climate change “a road to death” in an interview with CBS Evening News. “Unfortunately, we have gotten to a point of no return,” he said. “It’s sad, but that’s what it is. Global warming is a serious problem.” The pope has been very outspoken about the climate crisis, urging governments to stop using fossil fuels and pitching the state of the environment as a moral issue. Last week the Vatican hosted a climate conference that focused on building resilience as the crisis intensifies. It culminated in the signing of a protocol that urges wealthy nations to finance adaptation and protection for the world’s poorest, and calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, among other priorities.
- Light-duty EVs overtake rail on U.S. electricity usage
Here’s an interesting little statistic for you: In 2023, light-duty electric vehicles consumed more electricity than the nation’s railways, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Annual railway electricity usage has hovered around 7,000 Gigawatt hours (GWh) since 2003, making it the largest electricity end-use category in the transportation sector. But that changed last year when EVs took the top spot, using 7,596 GWh. The EIA notes this is nearly five times the amount of electricity EVs consumed in 2018. The numbers underscore two trends: the limited expansion of U.S. rail, and the explosive growth of EV sales.
THE KICKER
“I just watch their jaws drop and the surprise of ‘Where did this come from? This is an hour outside of Boise?’” –Chris Geroro, a fly fisher in southeastern Oregon, describes the beauty of the Owyhee River watershed, one of the country’s largest areas of pristine wilderness that is also prime for green development.
https://heatmap.news/culture/houston-outage-electricity-heat
Lawmakers play catch-up with artificial intelligence
date: 2024-05-21, from: Marketplace Morning Report
From the BBC World Service: Artificial intelligence has been argued to be the tech of our time, and lawmakers have been grappling with how to regulate it. Today, the European Union approved what it says is the first AI law of its kind in the world. Plus, we hear how Japanese authorities are clamping down on tiresome tourists. And why has the U.S. takeover of a Premier League soccer club run into overtime?
Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!
With ransomware whales becoming so dominant, would-be challengers ask ‘what’s the point?’
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Fewer rivals on the scene as big-gang success soars
The number of new ransomware strains in circulation has more than halved over the past 12 months, suggesting there is little need for innovation given the success of the existing tools used by top gangs.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/with_ransomware_whales_becoming_so/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-21, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
A Node package that reads RSS, Atom and RDF feeds and calls back with a simple, consistent JavaScript object.
https://github.com/scripting/reallysimple
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-21, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
The disturbing truth is that there’s probably more sincerity than not in American politics. We may not want to believe it, but most of the people in charge say what they mean and mean what they say.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/opinion/alito-flag-stop-the-steal.html?smid=tw-share
This Ducati Streetwear Collab Adds Color To Your Motorcycle
date: 2024-05-21, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
A capsule collection of streetwear accompanies this vibrant customization kit.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720204/scrambler-ducati-x-van-orton-design/
Long-term supported distros’ kernel policies are all wrong
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Or so says CIQ, which coincidentally has issues obtaining RHEL’s kernel sources
Comment A new hire at Rocky Linux creator CIQ is rocking the LTS-Linux-distro boat – by shining a spotlight on the elephant in the room (or one of the herd).…
US expects South Korea and Japan to manage ties with China at summit amid growing differences
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
WASHINGTON — Ahead of a trilateral summit involving South Korea, Japan, and China this weekend in Seoul, Washington said it expects the event to be an opportunity for its two allies to manage their relations with Beijing.
“The United States respects the ability of nations to make sovereign decisions in the best interests of their people,” said a spokesperson for the State Department.
“Just as the United States takes steps to responsibly manage our relationship with the PRC, so do our partners and allies,” the spokesperson continued in an email to VOA’s Korean Service on May 15. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is China’s official name.
The summit would come amid a heightened tension between Washington and Beijing over trade and after China agreed with Russia to establish a “new era” partnership to create “a multipolar world order” during their summit last week.
The three East Asian countries are expected to hold their summit from May 26 to 27, but the official dates have not been announced. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to attend in place of Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The meeting would be their first trilateral summit since December 2019.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told VOA on May 14 that Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul should be main drivers responsible for regional stability and security.
Pointing out what Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after a trilateral foreign ministers meeting in November, Pengyu said the three countries need to “address differences and disputes in peaceful ways” and “act as front runner of East Asia cooperation.”
Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing are planning to discuss trade and investment, peace and security, and science and technology, among other items and include in a joint statement their cooperation on economic issues and infectious diseases, according to the Japan Times, citing Japanese government sources Sunday.
Former U.S. officials said while it will be important for the three countries to meet and talk at the summit, differences that Seoul and Tokyo have with Beijing on North Korea are unlikely to be resolved.
“With China determined to establish a new China-centric regional order and because of Beijing’s open-ended support for the DPRK, we should not expect progress on this issue,” said Evans Revere, a State Department official with extensive experience negotiating with North Korea.
North Korea’s official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
“Nevertheless, it is important for South Korea and Japan to use this summit to convey their strong concerns,” Revere continued.
At a bilateral summit last week, Beijing and Moscow criticized Washington and its allies for their “intimidation in the military sphere” against North Korea.
Zhao Leji, who ranks third in the Chinese Communist Party, visited Pyongyang in April and agreed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to boost cooperation on mutual concerns. It was the highest-level talks the two countries had held in years.
The upcoming summit comes after trilateral cooperation was agreed among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo at their Camp David summit in August 2023 to strengthen their deterrence against North Korean threats and to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific against Chinese aggressions.
Joseph DeTrani, who served as the U.S. special envoy for six-party denuclearization talks with North Korea from 2003 to 2006, said, “China will ask that the ROK and Japan not to align with the U.S. against China, an issue that wasn’t on the table in 2019.”
South Korea’s official name is the Republic of Korea (ROK).
DeTrani said Seoul and Tokyo will “try to get China to convince North Korea to cease providing arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine” and “to use its leverage” with Pyongyang “to halt ballistic missile launches.”
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un, denied Pyongyang’s arms dealings with Moscow, according to state-run KCNA on Friday. The same day, North Korea launched a tactical ballistic missile, said KCNA.
Gary Samore, who served as the White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction during the Obama administration, said the summit will become “an opportunity for communication” among Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing to avoid conflict, but the differences that grew among them since 2019 will not be resolved as South Korea and Japan “leaned in the direction of cooperating with the U.S.”
Eunjung Cho contributed to this report.
BT delays deadline for digital landline switch off date
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Telco told they must protect vulnerable in race to turn off Public Switched Telephone Network
BT has extended the deadline for migrating customers off the copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital landlines to give more time to vulnerable people, including telecare users, to move.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/bt_delays_deadline_for_digital/
Lynne Plambeck | Remembering Ed Dunn
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Signal
It’s strange how life works. You never really know when it is your time. First a friend is there, then the next day he is not. Ed Dunn just kept […]
The post Lynne Plambeck | Remembering Ed Dunn appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/lynne-plambeck-remembering-ed-dunn/
Making friends with birds outside Pi Towers
date: 2024-05-21, from: Raspberry Pi News (.com)
The finance team wanted to attract wildlife to their office window and needed a little maker magic to get their bird feeder up high.
The post Making friends with birds outside Pi Towers appeared first on Raspberry Pi.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/making-friends-with-birds-outside-pi-towers/
Microsoft Power BI users warned over pace of Fabric migration
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Users given less than three months to move to the new platform for some services, analyst points out
As Microsoft Build in Seattle kicks off today, one analyst has pointed out that the Redmond software giant is giving users scant time to get off its popular BI system and re-implement their solutions.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/microsoft_power_bi_users_warned/
Understanding Alito’s Flag
date: 2024-05-21, from: Robert Reich on Substack
Samuel Alito and the politics of vice signaling
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/giving-liberals-the-finger
The ‘most affordable’ DIY e-bike kit company just launched a new $349 version
date: 2024-05-21, from: Electrek Feed
Swytch, makers of the self-proclaimed “most affordable” electric bike conversion kits out there, announced its newest model this morning. The UK-based company’s new Swytch GO kit comes with a super low pre-order price of just £299 (or US $349 for North American customers), though there’s a bit of a catch.
Germany’s foreign minister says in Kyiv that air defenses are an ‘absolute priority’ for Ukraine
date: 2024-05-21, from: Associated Press, World News
Germany’s foreign minister says sending air defense systems to Ukraine to help protect it from Russian cruise missiles, rockets and drones is an “absolute priority.”
Tesla ‘Cybercab’ Robotaxi Interior: Is This It?
date: 2024-05-21, from: Inside EVs News
Several photos that show a two-seater without a steering wheel made their way into an official Tesla video.
https://insideevs.com/news/720357/tesla-cybercab-robotaxi-interior-leak/
Arms Dealers Shoot Down Accountability
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Lever News
The country’s top weapons manufacturers rejected shareholder motions to expose their emissions policies and human rights practices.
https://www.levernews.com/arms-dealers-shoot-down-accountability/
Google’s €1B Finnish datacenter expansion to heat the local community
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
AI might take your job, but you’ll be toasty warm while you starve
Google plans to invest €1 billion to expand its datacenter campus in Finland – a move that will both bolster its AI compute capacity and reclaim the thermal energy generated by power hungry accelerators to heat local homes.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/google_dc_finland_heating/
May 20, 2024
date: 2024-05-21, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
There is a curious dynamic at work in politics these days. Trump does not appear to be trying to court voters to his standard. If he were, he would be reaching out to Nikki Haley voters and trying to moderate his stances. Instead, he is rejecting her voters and doubling down on extreme positions. Rather than trying to appeal to swing voters, he seems to be trying to whip up his right-wing base to engage in violence on his behalf.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-20-2024
Today in SCV History (May 21)
date: 2024-05-21, from: SCV New (TV Station)
1978 – St. Francis Dam site becomes a State Landmark [story
https://scvnews.com/today-in-scv-history-may-21/
ScarJo voices anger at OpenAI’s unauthorized soundalike
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Sam Altman liked the sound of a fictional ScarBot, which makes this all a bit creepy
Audio Movie megastar Scarlett Johansson has complained that one of the voices OpenAI’s ChatGPT uses in voice interactions sounds eerily like her own – despite having rebuffed an approach to record a bot for the AI market leader.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/scarlett_johansson_openai_accusation/
Alleged $100M dark-web drug kingpin, 23, arrested
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
DoJ claims he used platform’s last days to extort its users
A 23-year-old Taiwanese man was arrested in New York for allegedly running the $100 million global dark web narcotics e-commerce operation known as Incognito Market.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/incognito_market_arrest_charge/
Deputies: Man steals, abandons city truck near bike trail
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Signal
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station received a report Monday morning of a truck stolen from the city of Santa Clarita’s Parks Division, and the truck was recovered shortly thereafter […]
The post Deputies: Man steals, abandons city truck near bike trail appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/deputies-man-steals-abandons-city-truck-near-bike-trail/
Big Tech is not much help when fighting a junta, and FOSS doesn’t ride to the rescue
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Opponents of Myanmar’s internet-nobbling military government don’t like when Facebook asks for their real names
Big Tech isn’t much help if you’re an activist trying to work against a military junta, and FOSS tools aren’t a great alternative either, according to opponents of Myanmar’s military regime.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/activist_tech_inadequate_myanmar/
The OpenAI board was right
date: 2024-05-21, from: Gary Marcus blog
Even on little things, Sam is not consistently candid.
https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/the-openai-board-was-right
US will not support global tax on billionaires
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-will-not-support-global-tax-on-billionaires/7620462.html
Juvenile driver hits, kills pedestrian in Gilroy
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The fatal collision happened early Sunday morning near St. Louise Regional Hospital.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/20/juvenile-driver-hits-kills-pedestrian-in-gilroy/
Why the Biden White House chose Kenya for its first state visit by an African leader
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
The White House — The White House says it chose Kenya for its first state visit by an African leader for many reasons — not least because the East African powerhouse has stepped up on the global stage, offering to staff a United Nations peacekeeping mission to Haiti that could see boots on the ground as early as this week.
VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell sat down with Frances Brown, the newly appointed director for African affairs at the National Security Council, ahead of a state visit by Kenyan President William Ruto. They discussed a range of issues, including technology, climate management, debt relief, democracy, health and more.
The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
VOA: In a few days, President Joe Biden hosts Kenyan President William Ruto at the White House, his first African leader for a state visit. Why was Kenya chosen and what deliverables can we expect?
Frances Brown, NSC director for African affairs: We chose Kenya for a few reasons. No. 1 is the Kenya-U.S. partnership has really grown from a regionally focused one to a globally focused one. … and we see a lot of complementarities in terms of what we’re trying to do on climate. What we’re trying to do on debt for the developing world, and on security issues.
The second reason we wanted to have this state visit with Kenya is that we are both democracies, and our bond is very deep as democracies, and our bond is very deep on people-to-people ties.
The third reason is that Kenya and the U.S. really work similarly in terms of bringing in the private sector to solve global challenges. So, we’ll be talking a lot about those. The deliverables you’ll see are in the realms of technology, clean energy and climate transition, of debt relief, of democracy, of people-to-people ties and on health-related issues.
VOA: Kenya hopes to soon have peacekeepers in Haiti. Why is this so important to the administration?
Brown: We do really welcome the Kenyans raising their hand to help lead this multinational security support mission in Haiti, because it’s kind of an example of what I just mentioned of Kenya raising its hand to solve problems even outside of its region. … As you may know, there’s been planning under way for a number of months. It has included policing experts from around the world working to develop a concept of operations. Kenya is not going it alone. The U.S. has provided $300 million towards this, so it’s a big thing for us.
VOA: Are there any other security agreements these two countries might come up with during the state visit?
Brown: I would say watch this space, because I think security cooperation with Kenya is a really important plank.
VOA: Is it going to be focused on threats from Somalia or from other parts of East Africa?
Brown: The U.S. and Kenya have long cooperated on Somalia. I think you can look for security-related announcements that go beyond that.
VOA: U.S. troops are pulling out of the Sahel and the so-called “Coup Belt.” What are the concerns the administration has about security in the Sahel region, especially as Russia expands its footprint there?
Brown: As has been widely reported, we are making an orderly withdrawal from Niger. I will say that is pretty consistent with our administration’s [counterterrorism] posture in general that we have made changes to our posture that are consistent with our CT policy. It is no secret that democracy is on the backfoot in a lot of places globally.
If you talk to democracy scholars, democracy is on something like its 20th year of global decline. So, Africa is not alone in this regard. The Biden administration is focused on lifting up and partnering with democracies to help them deliver.
You may have seen USAID’s initiative on democracy delivering. We’re working with a few African countries on that. And I think this is, again, something that we’ll be talking a lot to the Kenyans with, because President Ruto has talked about the imperative of democracy delivering.
VOA: Regarding issues of trade and the African Growth and Opportunity Act — obviously, this is going to be a decision made by Congress, but how does the administration feel about the benefits of trade and of barrier-free trade with the United States?
Brown: President Biden has been really vocal that he sees AGOA reauthorization and AGOA modernization as a huge priority. It has been huge, I think from our perspective, but also from the perspective of the region. It’s something we hear a lot about from our Kenyan partners. We do look to Congress for that. But as you know, reauthorization is due next year, and obviously we hope that things can get in motion before then.
VOA: The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — which has been a literal lifesaver for people around the African continent — is up for renewal next year. How does the White House see this program as contributing to national security?
Brown: We see PEPFAR as essential. And as you know, PEPFAR has been supported with bipartisan congressional support and across administrations since the George W. Bush initiative initially. We think PEPFAR is delivering for people across the continent, and we’ve been proud to support it, and we look for reauthorization.
VOA: When is President Biden going to visit Africa, and where will he go?
Brown: So, I cannot make news at this moment by announcing presidential travel. But what I will say is thus far, I think President Biden’s commitment to the relationship with the continent is pretty clear. If you think about Kenya, it’s the first state visit that we’re giving to a non-G20 country this term. There’s only been five other state visits. … But then you just look at the steady stream of Cabinet official travels to the continent over the past two years — by our count, there’s 24 principals or Cabinet-level officials who’ve made that trip, all of them bringing their own agenda.
I’d also say just in terms of the other ways President Biden has shown his commitment, advocating for AU [African Union] membership with the G20 has been huge. Advocating for more African seats and international financial institutions and all the other transformative investment.
VOA: You’ve just joined the NSC in this capacity. What priorities do you bring to this post?
Brown: I think I see this post as moving forward on the affirmative agenda that President Biden laid out first, and the Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy, which was published at the end of 2021. Then the African Leaders Summit, which came at the end of 2022. There were a lot of initiatives launched by those two events. Now we are running forward on implementation.
At the same time, of course, at the NSC, the urgent sometimes competes with the important, so of course, we’re seized with managing crises. And we’re really sobered by the crises that are happening in many parts of the continent. So, I see my role as a balance between those two, and I’m thrilled to be on board.
https://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-welcomes-kenya-for-first-african-state-visit/7620460.html
Is this the interior of Tesla’s upcoming ‘Robotaxi’?
date: 2024-05-21, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla has released a new video that includes some footage of a previously unseen vehicle interior. Could it be an early concept of the interior of the Robotaxi?
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/tesla-robotaxi-interior-leak/
Michigan town fails to block Chinese EV factory
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/michigan-town-fails-to-block-chinese-ev-factory/7620452.html
Taiwan’s new president wants to upgrade from ‘silicon island’ to ‘AI island’
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Drone island too – in part to keep China at bay, and ensure TSMC’s sweet silicon remains available
Taiwan’s recently elected president, Lai Ching-te, has used his inaugural address to call for the island state to upgrade to an AI nation.…
Biden, Trump clash over gun rights
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
Guns have divided American voters, with nearly equal numbers taking opposite sides in the gun safety debate, according to Pew Research polling. U.S. presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump also have opposing views on guns and gun control. VOA correspondent Scott Stearns reports.
https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-trump-clash-over-gun-rights-/7620446.html
The Spring Bird Vortex
date: 2024-05-21, from: Margaret Atwood’s substack
Through the magic doorway to Birdland
https://margaretatwood.substack.com/p/the-spring-bird-vortex
Trump unlikely to testify as his trial nears end
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-unlikely-to-testify-as-his-trial-nears-the-end-/7620433.html
Moorpark district looking to protest CIF title game dispute
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Signal
The final inning of Friday night’s CIF Southern Section Division 2 baseball championship, in which Hart High School was declared the winner after a controversial call by the umpire crew, […]
The post Moorpark district looking to protest CIF title game dispute appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/moorpark-district-seeking-protest-cif-title-game-dispute/
Intel, AMD take a back seat as Qualcomm takes center stage in Microsoft’s AI PC push
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Plus: Windows set for ML-powered always-watching-you Recall feature
Build Microsoft isn’t waiting around for Intel and AMD to get their neural processing units (NPUs) up to snuff and is pushing its AI PC agenda forward with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus system-on-chips (SoCs).…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/qualcomm_windows_microsoft/
COC to hold screening and discussion of ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Signal
A screening and discussion of the controversially titled film “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” hosted by the College of the Canyons philosophy department, is meant to spark a discussion […]
The post COC to hold screening and discussion of ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/coc-to-hold-screening-and-discussion-of-how-to-blow-up-a-pipeline/
US officials warn cyberattacks on water systems are increasing
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
EPA did not say how many cyber incidents have occurred in recent years, and the number of attacks known to be successful so far is few. The agency has issued nearly 100 enforcement actions since 2020 regarding risk assessments and emergency response, but said that’s a small snapshot of the threats water systems face.
Toddler bookworm triumph
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Signal
Luca McFarlin completed a huge milestone for a 2-year-old toddler. With the help of his family, McFarlin read 1,000 books and became the sixth child to accomplish the 1,000 Books […]
The post Toddler bookworm triumph appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/toddler-bookworm-triumph/
Crews battle two-alarm fire at Tesla plant in Fremont
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The blaze was reported just before 5 p.m. Monday at the plant on Fremont Boulevard.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/20/crews-battling-two-alarm-fire-at-tesla-facility-in-fremont/
Haiti’s main airport reopens 3 months after gang violence closed it
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The U.S. government had evacuated hundreds of citizens by helicopter out of a hilly neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, as did nonprofit organizations, as gangs laid siege to parts of the capital.
SCV deputies take part in memorial run
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Signal
A nearly 50-year-old tradition ran through the Santa Clarita Valley on Saturday to honor law enforcement officers who “sacrificed their lives in the performance of their duties,” according to the […]
The post SCV deputies take part in memorial run appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/scv-deputies-take-part-in-memorial-run/
Dark web drug site founder to appear in New York court
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/dark-web-drug-site-founder-to-appear-in-new-york-court/7620397.html
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-21, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Scarlett Johansson says lawyers got OpenAI to shut down "Her" voice.
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/20/scarlet-johansson-openai-chatgpt-sam-altman
Head of US deposit insurance agency to step down
date: 2024-05-21, from: VOA News USA
new york — The White House said Monday that the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation would step down, a departure that will follow the release this month of a damning report about the agency’s toxic workplace culture.
The White House said Martin Gruenberg would step down once a successor was appointed and that President Joe Biden would name a replacement “soon.” The announcement came after the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee earlier Monday called for Gruenberg’s removal.
Biden expects the FDIC “to reflect the values of decency and integrity and to protect the rights and dignity of all employees,” deputy press secretary Sam Michel said in a statement.
The FDIC is one of several U.S. banking system regulators. The Great Depression-era agency is best known for running the nation’s deposit insurance program, which insures Americans’ deposits up to $250,000 in case their banks fail.
Before Monday, no Democrats had called for Gruenberg’s ouster, although several came very close to doing so. But Senator Sherrod Brown, the top Democrat on the Banking Committee, who is facing a tough reelection campaign, issued a statement Monday calling for Gruenberg to step down, saying his leadership at the FDIC could no longer be trusted.
Gruenberg was grilled for two days last week on Capitol Hill in hearings largely focused on the FDIC’s workplace culture and the failures disclosed in the report prepared by an outside law firm.
“After chairing last week’s hearing, reviewing the independent report and receiving further outreach from FDIC employees … , I am left with one conclusion: There must be fundamental changes at the FDIC,” Brown said in a statement.
Republicans have been calling for Gruenberg’s ouster for some time and criticized the White House for not calling for his immediate departure.
Gruenberg has held various leadership positions at the FDIC for nearly 20 years, and this was his second full term as FDIC chair. His long tenure at the agency made him largely responsible for the agency’s toxic work environment, according to the report outlining the problems at the agency.
The report released last Tuesday by law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton cites incidents of stalking, harassment, homophobia and other violations of employment regulations, based on more than 500 complaints from employees.
Among the complaints: a woman said she was stalked by a coworker and continually harassed even after complaining about his behavior; a field office supervisor referred to gay men as “little girls”; and a female field examiner described receiving a picture of an FDIC senior examiner’s private parts.
https://www.voanews.com/a/head-of-us-deposit-insurance-agency-to-step-down/7620393.html
Human Rights Watch Raises $900,000
date: 2024-05-21, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Head of international nonprofit addresses guests.
The post Human Rights Watch Raises $900,000 appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/05/20/human-rights-watch-raises-900000/
Bridge to Home celebrates new shelter
date: 2024-05-21, from: The Signal
For many gathered off Drayton Street in Newhall at Monday’s ribbon-cutting for the city’s first-ever permanent homeless shelter, it was a full-circle moment. More than a handful of people could […]
The post Bridge to Home celebrates new shelter appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/bridge-to-home-celebrates-new-shelter/
Pentagon vows to keep resupplying Ukraine with weapons
date: 2024-05-21, from: San Jose Mercury News
The U.S. announced no new aid packages Monday, even as Ukrainian forces continue to complain that weapons are just trickling into the country after being stalled for months due to congressional gridlock over funding. Pentagon officials have said that weapons pre-positioned in Europe began moving into Ukraine soon after the aid funding was approved in late April.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/20/pentagon-vows-to-keep-resupplying-ukraine-with-weapons/
NGI Mobifree Launches to Develop Ethical Mobile Software
date: 2024-05-21, updated: 2024-05-21, from: nlnet feed
https://nlnet.nl/news/2024/20240521-Mobifree-official-launch.html
Larry Bensky, the signature voice of KPFA news radio, dead at 87
date: 2024-05-20, from: San Jose Mercury News
From a San Francisco phone booth, Bensky broadcast a live narrative of the historic “White Night” riots, sparked by the lenient sentencing of Dan White for the assassinations of San Francisco mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
TMU Students Get Talking with Podcasting Course
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
When Dr. Bob Dickson first began teaching Podcast Studio at The Master’s University, the podcasting format had already taken to the skies and was planting its flag in the media atmosphere
https://scvnews.com/tmu-students-get-talking-with-podcasting-course/
Peninsula man arrested in connection with coastside arson
date: 2024-05-20, from: San Jose Mercury News
The fire caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage over the weekend in Princeton-by-the-Sea.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/20/peninsula-man-arrested-in-connection-with-coastside-arson/
Why is ICC seeking arrest warrants for Hamas, Israeli leaders?
date: 2024-05-20, from: San Jose Mercury News
Karim Khan said that he believes Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders — Yehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh — are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/20/why-is-icc-seeking-arrest-warrants-for-hamas-israeli-leaders/
Xeon Phi support removed in GCC 15 compiler
date: 2024-05-20, from: OS News
Last week I wrote about Intel aiming to remove Xeon Phi support in GCC 15 with the products being end-of-life and deprecated in GCC 14. While some openly wondered whether the open-source community would allow it given the Xeon Phi accelerators were available to buy just a few years ago and at some very low prices going back years so some potentially finding use still out of them especially during this AI boom (and still readily available to buy used for around ~$50 USD), today the Intel Xeon Phi support was indeed removed. ↫ Michael Larabel Xeon Phi PCIe cards are incredibly cheap on eBay, and every now and then my mouse hovers over the buy button – but I always realise just in time that the cards have become quite difficult to use, since support for them, already sparse to begin with, is only getting worse by the day. Support for them was already removed in Linux 5.10, and now GCC is pulling he plug too, so the only option is to keep using old kernels, or pass the card on to a VM running an older Linux kernel version, which is a lot of headache for what is essentially a weird toy for nerds at this point. GCC 15 will also, sadly, remove support for Itanium, which, as I’ve said before, is a huge disgrace and a grave mistake. Itanium is the future, and will stomp all over crappy architectures like x86 and ARM. With this deprecation, GCC relegates itself to the dustbin of history.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139752/xeon-phi-support-removed-in-gcc-15-compiler/
Letters: Revisit vote | Academic failure | Airport names | Let’s disagree | Trump’s criminality | ‘Shadow speaker’
date: 2024-05-20, from: San Jose Mercury News
East Bay Times Letters to the Editor for May 21, 2024
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/20/letters-1728/
Teenage Rising Star Set to Graduate from CSUN
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
While most teenagers are navigating their way through high school, 15-year-old actor Tate Birchmore is preparing to walk the California State University, Northridge commencement stage.
https://scvnews.com/teenage-rising-star-set-to-graduate-from-csun/
FDIC chief set to step down after report detailing toxic workplace
date: 2024-05-20, from: San Jose Mercury News
The White House said Martin Gruenberg will step down once a successor is appointed and that President Joe Biden will name a replacement “soon.” The announcement came after the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee earlier Monday called for Gruenberg’s removal.
@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed (date: 2024-05-20, from: Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed)
Write VisionOS shaders like a civilized person:
https://github.com/praeclarum/ShaderGraphCoder
https://mastodon.social/@Migueldeicaza/112475987895143055
Modernizing the AntennaPod code structure
date: 2024-05-20, from: OS News
AntennaPod has been around for a long time – the first bit of code was published in 2011. Since then, the app has grown massively and had several main developers. The beauty of open-source is that so many people can contribute and make a great app together. But sometimes having many people work on a project can lead to different ways of thinking about how to structure the project. Because of this, AntennaPod gradually grew to have a number of weird code constructs. Our latest release, version 3.4, fixes this. ↫ ByteHamster The AntennaPod team had an incredible task ahead of itself, and while it took them a few years, they pulled it off. The code structure graphs from before and after the code restructuring illustrate better than words ever could what they achieved. Thy changed 10000 lines of source code in 62 pull requests for this restructuring alone, while still adding new major features in the meantime. Pretty incredible.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139750/modernizing-the-antennapod-code-structure/
Cougars Conclude Track & Field Season at State Championship Meet
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
College of the Canyons wrapped the 2024 season by seeing three Cougars compete during day two action of the 3C2A Track & Field State Championships hosted by Saddleback College
https://scvnews.com/cougars-conclude-track-field-season-at-state-championship-meet/
OpenSSF sings a Siren song to steer developers away from buggy FOSS
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
New infosec intelligence service aims to spread the word about recently discovered vulns in free code
Securing open source software may soon become a little bit easier thanks to a new vulnerability info-sharing effort initiated by the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF).…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/openssf_siren_warning/
Ken Striplin | Nurturing Greenery, Cultivating Community
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Whether you’re exploring the trails in our vast open spaces, enjoying time in any of our 38 parks or simply driving through the community, Santa Clarita stands out from the rest
https://scvnews.com/ken-striplin-nurturing-greenery-cultivating-community/
Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 will Pay Tribute to Those Who Died Serving at Free Memorial Day Ceremony
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Santa Barbara, CA, May 20, 2024 – The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649
The post Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 will Pay Tribute to Those Who Died Serving at Free Memorial Day Ceremony appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-20, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Trump choosing not to testify in his own defense should be a banner headline.
Report: Historic 2023 water year delivered big boost to California groundwater
date: 2024-05-20, from: The Signal
News release The California Department of Water Resources has released the latest Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions report, and the data show that California achieved 4.1 million acre-feet of managed groundwater recharge […]
The post Report: Historic 2023 water year delivered big boost to California groundwater appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
Sols 4188-4190: Aurora Watch on Mars
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
Earth planning date: Friday, May 17, 2024 During the night of May 10, Earth experienced a fantastic display of aurorae (Northern and Southern Lights) which extended all the way to tropical latitudes, courtesy of the strongest geomagnetic storm since 2003. The enormous solar active region 3664, which produced the X-class flares and powerful coronal mass […]
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/sols-4188-4190-aurora-watch-on-mars/
Letters: Deafening opposition | Go further | Wasteful paper | Adding RFK | No Trump return | Costa Rica’s example
date: 2024-05-20, from: San Jose Mercury News
Mercury News Letters to the Editor for May 21, 2024
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/20/letters-1727/
Reunión comunitaria para discutir las próximas mejoras en el parque Douglas Family Preserve
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 20 de mayo de 2024 El Departamento de Parques y Recreación de la Ciudad de Santa
The post Reunión comunitaria para discutir las próximas mejoras en el parque Douglas Family Preserve appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Community Meeting to Discuss Upcoming Improvements at Douglas Family Preserve
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
SANTA BARBARA, CA – May 20, 2024 The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department will host a public
The post Community Meeting to Discuss Upcoming Improvements at Douglas Family Preserve appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara Awards $12,000 Grant to Meals on Wheels Program in Santa Ynez Valley
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Santa Barbara, CA – The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara has awarded a $12,000 grant to the Santa Ynez Valley
The post Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara Awards $12,000 Grant to Meals on Wheels Program in Santa Ynez Valley appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
May 21: Saugus Union School District Regular Meeting
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, May 21, with closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by public session at 6:30 p.m
https://scvnews.com/may-21-saugus-union-school-district-regular-meeting/
Storms, Politics, And Activism: The History Of The Santa Monica Pier
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The LAist
The Santa Monica Pier started off as a sewage line over a century ago and has since transformed into an amusement park, event center, and tourist destination.
https://laist.com/news/la-history/storms-politics-and-activism-the-history-of-the-santa-monica-pier
Luretík Olive Oil Aims to Challenge Italy’s Finest
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Elise Magistro crafts award-winning oils from her family’s Santa Ynez Valley orchard.
The post Luretík Olive Oil Aims to Challenge Italy’s Finest appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/05/20/luretik-olive-oil-aims-to-challenge-italys-finest/
COC Fire Technology Students Awarded Edison Scholarships
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Twenty-one College of the Canyons fire technology students have received $1,000 scholarships from Edison International to cover tuition, books and school-related fees.
https://scvnews.com/coc-fire-technology-students-awarded-edison-scholarships-2/
Julian Assange can appeal extradition to the US, London High Court rules
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Let me go, Brandon
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal his extradition to the US from the UK, the High Court of England and Wales ruled Monday.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/julian_assange_appeal_extradition/
@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed (date: 2024-05-20, from: Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed)
Beowulf cluster of iPad Pros.
https://mastodon.social/@Migueldeicaza/112475636985580483
Brad Meza Named New Hart High Baseball Coach
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
Hart High School is proud to announce Brad Meza as the new varsity head baseball coach for its program
https://scvnews.com/brad-meza-named-new-hart-high-baseball-coach/
What Somms Are Saying About Santa Barbara Wine Country
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Sommeliers from around the globe gathered at the second annual CMS Women’s Symposium in Santa Ynez.
The post What Somms Are Saying About Santa Barbara Wine Country appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/05/20/what-somms-are-saying-about-santa-barbara-wine-country/
FBI Arrests Man For Generating AI Child Sexual Abuse Imagery
date: 2024-05-20, from: 404 Media Group
He allegedly used Stable Diffusion, a text-to-image generative AI model, to create “thousands of realistic images of prepubescent minors,” prosecutors said.
https://www.404media.co/fbi-arrests-man-for-generating-ai-child-sexual-abuse-imagery/
Slack AI Privacy Principles Generate Confusion and Consternation
date: 2024-05-20, from: TidBITS blog
After a section of a Slack document laying out its privacy principles surrounding AI was taken out of context on social media, controversy ensued. Adam Engst attempts to calm the waters, with help from ChatGPT.
https://tidbits.com/2024/05/20/slack-ai-privacy-principles-generate-confusion-and-consternation/
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 are the company’s first Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
Lenovo is bringing Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite processors to its consumer and business laptop lineup. The new Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Gen 9 is a notebook with a 14.5 inch, 2944 x 1840 pixel 90 Hz OLED touchscreen display and an ultrathin body that measures just 0.5 inches thick, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen […]
The post Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 are the company’s first Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips appeared first on Liliputing.
iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1 Fix Photo Reappearance Bug
date: 2024-05-20, from: TidBITS blog
Apple has released new versions of iOS and iPadOS in response to bug reports that iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 caused deleted photos to reappear and show blank images.
https://tidbits.com/2024/05/20/ios-17-5-1-and-ipados-17-5-1-fix-photo-reappearance-bug/
Honors all around at Hart district
date: 2024-05-20, from: The Signal
Last week’s William S. Hart Union High School District governing board meeting saw teachers, administrators and classified employees from across the district be honored in a retirement ceremony. The district also […]
The post Honors all around at Hart district appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/honors-all-around-at-hart-district/
Microsoft gives Windows new compiler, kernel, scheduler, and x86 translation layer on ARM
date: 2024-05-20, from: OS News
Microsoft’s developer conference Build is taking place this week, so there’s been some major Windows news and announcements, and for once – we’re not talking about more ads in your operating system, or even “AI” shoehorned into, I don’t know, Phone Dialer or Windows Fax and Scan. First and foremost, Windows is going to get a new compiler, kernel, and scheduler, but despite such massive low-level changes, the marketing version number won’t jump from 11 to 12. Of course, we all know the marketing version number has nothing to do with the actual Windows NT version number, which currently sits at 10. The Windows NT version number, meanwhile, is actually also meaningless, since it magically jumps around left and right too, going from 6.2 to 10 between Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, where it has stayed ever since. “We really focused on modernizing this update of Windows 11,” said Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Windows and Devices Pavan Davuluri at a technical briefing on Microsoft’s campus in mid-April. “We engineered this update of Windows 11 with a real focus on AI inference and taking advantage of the Arm64 instruction set at every layer of the operating system stack. For us, what this meant really was building a new compiler in Windows. We built a new kernel in Windows on top of that compiler. We now have new schedulers in the operating system that take advantage of these new SoC architecture.” ↫ Andrew Cunningham at Ars Technica The focus is clearly on ARM here, which coincides with the launch of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, a new SoC that finally seems to truly make ARM laptops that aren’t from Apple a real, competitive thing – so much so that Qualcomm is even breaking with tradition and taking Linux support very seriously for this new chip. Microsoft also unveiled the name for its new x86 translation layer for Windows on ARM: Prism. Microsoft told Ars Technica that Prism is as fast as Apple’s Rosetta 2, which is interesting because Apple’s M series chips contain special silicon to speed up the translation process, making me wonder if Qualcomm has done the same, or is just brute-forcing it. Performance like this means the apps customers love work great. Microsoft has partnered closely with developers across the globe to optimize their applications for this processor. In addition, the powerful new Prism emulation engine delivers a 2x performance boost compared to Surface Pro 9 with 5G. On the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, powered by Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus processors, experiences like Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365 and Chrome will feel snappy, quick and responsive. ↫ Pete Kyriacou on the Windows blog The new Windows on ARM machines using the Snapdragon X Elite will be marketed under the new Copilot+ brand name, which brings with it some requirements, the biggest of which is the neural processing unit: it must be capable of at least 40 trillion operations per second. At the time of writing, the only Windows-capable processor that can boast such numbers is, of course, the new Snapdragon X Elite. AMD and Intel need not apply. They simply cannot match this. Microsoft tied a bow on all this stuff by unveiling the new Surface Pro and new Surface Laptop, both powered by the new Snapdragon SoCs. You can preorder them today, but they won’t be available until 18 June.
Mercedes-Benz just opened more DC fast chargers at Buc-ee’s in Texas
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging just opened more DC fast chargers at Buc-ee’s stores in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/mercedes-benz-dc-fast-chargers-buc-ees-in-dallas-fort-worth/
Adorable Rodents on the Highveld Beat
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Giant kangaroo rats are the eco-gardeners of California’s grasslands.
The post Adorable Rodents on the Highveld Beat appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/05/20/adorable-rodents-on-the-highveld-beat-2/
FDA gives Neuralink ‘a second shot’ at human brain chip
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
A case of ‘keep digging deeper’ actually being the right move for Elon, potentially
America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reportedly approved Neuralink to implant an updated brain chip in a second human patient. The Elon Musk startup also hopes to perform ten tryouts by the end of the year.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/neuralink_brain_fda/
Aurorasaurus Roars During Historic Solar Storm
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
The largest geomagnetic storm in 21 years lit up the sky last weekend, and NASA’s volunteers were ready. Between May 10th and 12th 2024, NASA’s Aurorasaurus project received an unprecedented number of reports from around the world. It also helped eager aurora chasers get a better view.
This Polish Museum Received a Mysterious Package in the Mail—With Missing 17th-Century Tiles Inside
date: 2024-05-20, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The ceramic tiles, which vanished during World War II, once adorned a Baroque bathing pavilion in Warsaw
Polestar (PSNY) stock faces potential Nasdaq de-listing after failing to file its annual report
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Another EV stock may be removed from the Nasdaq exchange. After failing to file its annual report, Polestar (PSNY) received a notice from the Nasdaq as the company faces a possible de-listing.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/polestar-psny-stock-faces-potential-nasdaq-de-listing/
Hart announces Brad Meza as new baseball coach
date: 2024-05-20, from: The Signal
Hart baseball will remain in familiar hands following longtime coach Jim Ozella’s retirement. The school announced Ozella’s replacement, Brad Meza, on Monday in a press release, three days after the […]
The post Hart announces Brad Meza as new baseball coach appeared first on Santa Clarita Valley Signal.
https://signalscv.com/2024/05/hart-announces-brad-meza-as-new-baseball-coach/
US agency warns of increasing cyberattacks on water systems
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
washington — Cyberattacks against U.S. water utilities are becoming more frequent and more severe, the Environmental Protection Agency warned Monday as it issued an enforcement alert urging water systems to take immediate protective action.
About 70% of utilities inspected by federal officials over the last year violated standards meant to prevent breaches or other intrusions, the agency said. Officials urged even small water systems to improve protections against hacks. Recent cyberattacks by groups affiliated with Russia and Iran have targeted smaller communities.
Some water systems are falling short in basic ways, the alert said, including failure to change default passwords or cut off system access to former employees. Because water utilities often rely on computer software to operate treatment plants and distribution systems, protecting information technology and process controls is crucial, the EPA said.
Possible impacts of cyberattacks include interruptions to water treatment and storage; damage to pumps and valves; and alteration of chemical levels to hazardous amounts, the agency said.
“In many cases, systems are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, which is to have completed a risk assessment of their vulnerabilities that includes cybersecurity and to make sure that plan is available and informing the way they do business,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe.
Attempts by private groups or individuals to get into a water provider’s network and take down or deface websites aren’t new. More recently, however, attackers have targeted utilities’ operations.
Geopolitical rivals
Recent attacks are not just by private entities. Some recent hacks of water utilities are linked to geopolitical rivals and could lead to the disruption of the supply of safe water to homes and businesses.
McCabe named China, Russia and Iran as the countries that are “actively seeking the capability to disable U.S. critical infrastructure, including water and wastewater.”
Late last year, an Iranian-linked group called “Cyber Av3ngers” targeted multiple organizations including a small Pennsylvania town’s water provider, forcing it to switch from a remote pump to manual operations. They were going after an Israeli-made device used by the utility in the wake of Israel’s war against Hamas.
Earlier this year, a Russian-linked “hacktivist” tried to disrupt operations at several Texas utilities.
A cyber group linked to China and known as Volt Typhoon has compromised information technology of multiple critical infrastructure systems, including drinking water, in the United States and its territories, U.S. officials said. Cybersecurity experts believe the China-aligned group is positioning itself for potential cyberattacks in the event of armed conflict or rising geopolitical tensions.
“By working behind the scenes with these hacktivist groups, now these [nation states] have plausible deniability and they can let these groups carry out destructive attacks. And that to me is a game changer,” said Dawn Cappelli, a cybersecurity expert with the risk management firm Dragos Inc.
The world’s cyberpowers are believed to have been infiltrating rivals’ critical infrastructure for years, planting malware that could be triggered to disrupt basic services.
The enforcement alert is meant to emphasize the seriousness of cyberthreats and inform utilities the EPA will continue its inspections and pursue civil or criminal penalties if they find serious problems.
“We want to make sure that we get the word out to people that, ‘Hey, we are finding a lot of problems here,’” McCabe said.
Broader federal effort
Preventing attacks against water providers is part of the Biden administration’s broader effort to combat threats against critical infrastructure. In February, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to protect U.S. ports. Health care systems have been attacked. The White House has pushed electric utilities to increase their defenses, too. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan have asked states to come up with a plan to combat cyberattacks on drinking water systems.
“Drinking water and wastewater systems are an attractive target for cyberattacks because they are a lifeline critical infrastructure sector but often lack the resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices,’’ Regan and Sullivan wrote in a March 18 letter to all 50 U.S. governors.
Some of the fixes are straightforward, McCabe said. Water providers, for example, shouldn’t use default passwords. They need to develop a risk assessment plan that addresses cybersecurity and set up backup systems. The EPA says it will train water utilities that need help for free. Larger utilities usually have more resources and the expertise to defend against attacks.
“In an ideal world … we would like everybody to have a baseline level of cybersecurity and be able to confirm that they have that,” said Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. “But that’s a long ways away.”
Some barriers are foundational. The water sector is highly fragmented. There are roughly 50,000 community water providers, most of which serve small towns. Modest staffing and anemic budgets in many places make it hard enough to maintain the basics — providing clean water and keeping up with the latest regulations.
“Certainly, cybersecurity is part of that, but that’s never been their primary expertise. So, now you’re asking a water utility to develop this whole new sort of department” to handle cyberthreats, said Amy Hardberger, a water expert at Texas Tech University.
States, industry groups object
The EPA has faced setbacks. States periodically review the performance of water providers. In March 2023, the EPA instructed states to add cybersecurity evaluations to those reviews. If they found problems, the state was supposed to force improvements.
But Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa, joined by the American Water Works Association and another water industry group, challenged the instructions in court on the ground that EPA didn’t have the authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act. After a court setback, the EPA withdrew its requirements but urged states to take voluntary actions anyway.
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires certain water providers to develop plans for some threats and certify they’ve done so. But its power is limited.
“There’s just no authority for [cybersecurity] in the law,” said Roberson.
Kevin Morley, manager of federal relations with the American Water Works Association, said some water utilities have components that are connected to the internet — a common but significant vulnerability. Overhauling those systems can be a significant and costly job. And without substantial federal funding, water systems struggle to find resources.
The industry group has published guidance for utilities and advocates for establishing a new organization of cybersecurity and water experts that would develop new policies and enforce them, in partnership with the EPA.
“Let’s bring everybody along in a reasonable manner,” Morley said, adding that small and large utilities have different needs and resources.
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-agency-warns-of-increasing-cyberattacks-on-water-systems/7619972.html
Asus brings Snapdragon X chips to is Vivobook S 15 OLED line of semi-premium laptops
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The Asus Vivobook laptop family sits in a weird space. Up until a few years ago these were lower-cost alternatives to the premium thin-and-light Asus Zenbook lineup. But Asus keeps adding premium features like OLED displays to select Vivobook models, and now the company has announced that it’s first Copilot+ PC will be the Asus Vivobook S […]
The post Asus brings Snapdragon X chips to is Vivobook S 15 OLED line of semi-premium laptops appeared first on Liliputing.
Toyota announces nationwide dealer rollout of Tern Class 8 electric semi
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Launched as a joint venture between Toyota Group and Tier 1 supplier Hexagon Purus, the new Tern brand of heavy duty electric trucks announced Hino Trucks as its exclusive US distributor.
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-20, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Kingsley Uyi Idehen, working with ChatGPT, has a simple feed reader, using my blog's feed as an example.
https://chatgpt.com/share/cd865a2a-665c-4111-90cf-271d670688cd
National Charity League Honors 22 Graduating High School Seniors
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
The annual Senior Recognition Event for the Santa Barbara National Charity League (NCL) was held on April 21 at a
The post National Charity League Honors 22 Graduating High School Seniors appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
Moms Demand Action Invites Community To Wear Orange
date: 2024-05-20, from: Santa Barbara Indenpent News
Santa Barbara, CA – On Saturday, June 8 from 9 am – 12 pm, the Santa Barbara Chapter of Moms Demand
The post Moms Demand Action Invites Community To Wear Orange appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.
https://www.independent.com/2024/05/20/moms-demand-action-invites-community-to-wear-orange-2/
Microsoft launches 11th-gen Surface Pro for $1000 and up (Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs with an OLED display option)
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The new Microsoft Surface Pro is up for pre-order for $1000 and up, and it’s expected to be available beginning June 18, 2024. Microsoft is positioning the 11th-gen Surface Pro as the first to be a Copilot+ PC with an integrated NPU capable of delivering next-gen AI capabilities. But the new tablet also stands out as […]
The post Microsoft launches 11th-gen Surface Pro for $1000 and up (Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs with an OLED display option) appeared first on Liliputing.
FastScripts 3.3.2
date: 2024-05-20, from: TidBITS blog
https://tidbits.com/watchlist/fastscripts-3-3-2/
Little Snitch 5.7.6
date: 2024-05-20, from: TidBITS blog
https://tidbits.com/watchlist/little-snitch-5-7-6/
Audio Hijack 4.4.1
date: 2024-05-20, from: TidBITS blog
https://tidbits.com/watchlist/audio-hijack-4-4-1/
US 2024 election: What to expect in Kentucky’s primaries
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
washington — All of Donald Trump’s top opponents for the Republican nomination for president dropped out of the race weeks ago, but the whole gang will be back together on Kentucky’s primary ballot Tuesday.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie all suspended their campaigns after Kentucky finalized its ballot in January, as did pastor Ryan Binkley.
Trump has easily won nearly every Republican contest so far, but Haley has won a significant number of votes in several recent primaries, including Maryland (20%) and Nebraska (18%) this week.
President Joe Biden’s opponents in Kentucky are author Marianne Williamson and U.S. Representative Dean Phillips. Democrats can also vote for “uncommitted,” which has attracted protest votes in other states.
Kentucky voters will also decide six primaries for the U.S. House. One race to watch is the 4th Congressional District Republican primary. Representative Thomas Massie, who backed DeSantis’ presidential bid and co-sponsored a motion to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson, is facing a challenge from Eric Deters, a staunch Trump supporter. However, Deters hadn’t reported raising any money as of the latest filing deadline and placed fourth in the 2023 gubernatorial primary.
Here’s a look at what to expect on Tuesday.
Primary day
Kentucky will hold presidential primaries and will also choose nominees for the U.S. House, the state legislature and the state Senate. Polls will close locally at 6 p.m. across the state. However, Kentucky is nearly cut in half by time zones; most of it falls in the Eastern time zone, while 41 counties in the western part of the state are on Central time.
Who gets to vote
Kentucky has a closed primary system, which means that only voters registered with a political party may participate in that party’s primary. Democrats may not vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary.
Delegate allocation rules
Kentucky Republicans allocate their 46 delegates proportionally to any candidate who receives more than 15% of the vote, meaning any of Trump’s opponents could qualify for delegates. They could also splinter the anti-Trump vote, increasing Trump’s chances of being the only candidate to receive 15% of the vote and therefore the only candidate to receive any delegates.
Kentucky’s 53 pledged Democratic delegates are allocated according to the national party’s standard rules. Twelve at-large delegates are allocated in proportion to the statewide vote, as are six PLEO delegates, or “party leaders and elected officials.” The state’s six congressional districts have a combined 35 delegates at stake, which are allocated in proportion to the vote results in each district. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote to qualify for any statewide delegates, and 15% of the vote in a congressional district to qualify for delegates in that district.
Decision notes
While Republican state parties that hold primaries this late in the cycle tend to embrace a winner-takes-all system for delegate allocation, Kentucky Republicans are dividing their delegates proportionally among candidates who receive at least 15% of the vote.
For signs that a candidate not named Trump could reach that 15% threshold, look to suburban areas like Louisville and Lexington. Those areas — Jefferson and Fayette counties — are also the biggest sources of GOP votes in the state.
In the 2020 presidential primary, “uncommitted” and Trump were the only two options on the Republican ballot. Statewide, “uncommitted” received 13% of the vote in the GOP primary. In Jefferson County, however, “uncommitted” received 23%.
In the 4th Congressional District — which runs along the Ohio River, sharing its northern boundary with Indiana and Ohio — the United Democracy Project, a group that has criticized Massie for his record on Israel, had spent $328,672 on the race as of last Tuesday. However, those ads have not supported an alternative candidate.
The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.
Kentucky mandates a recount if the top candidate wins by less than 0.5 percentage point. However, that recount rule does not apply to the presidential race. Candidates can ask for a recanvass of the vote, which entails retabulating the vote totals, if the margin is less than 1 percentage point. However, to request a recount, in which each ballot is hand-counted, a court must approve and prescribe the procedure.
What do turnout and the advance vote look like?
As of March 31, there were 3,487,292 registered voters in Kentucky. Of those voters, 43% were Democrats and 46% were Republicans.
In 2022, 17% of voters cast their ballots before Election Day.
How long does vote-counting usually take?
In the 2023 primary election, the AP first reported results at 6:03 p.m. Eastern time, or three minutes after the first polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 9:56 p.m. with about 98% of total votes counted.
Are we there yet?
As of Tuesday, there will be 168 days until the November general election.
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-2024-election-what-to-expect-in-kentucky-s-primaries-/7619922.html
Gasoline Prices Could Be Pretty Low This Summer — Except for One Thing
date: 2024-05-20, from: Heatmap News
The American oil refining business is a national colossus, with almost 130 facilities taking in some 16 million barrels of crude oil per day and turning it into nearly 10 million barrels of gasoline and 5 million barrels of diesel. And unlike some past years, inventories are looking pretty good heading into this summer. While they’re lower than the five-year average, gasoline supplies are still higher than where they were a year ago, and refineries are a ways away from running at their peak capacity. According to the forecasters at GasBuddy, we’re looking at relatively mild summertime prices of around $3.50 to $3.60 per gallon.
The one wild card: weather. About half of America’s refining capacity sits on the Gulf Coast, putting America’s fuel production squarely in the target zone of what could be an especially active hurricane season.
“If you recall 2022, inventories were tight and [refinery] utilization was tight,” explained Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis. Gas prices peaked in June of 2022 at slightly over $5 per gallon, according to data the Energy Information Administration’s data, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent crude oil prices soaring to more $120 a barrel. “Our head is holding above water now,” he said, because demand is low. “We’re in a much better position going into the start of the summer compared to two years ago.”
Oil prices have largely stayed steady so far this year other than a brief spike in early April, despite continued attacks on shipping by Houthi rebels in Yemen and the ongoing threat of a spiraling regional conflict in the Middle East. The top gas price last month was around $3.67 a gallon, whereas GasBuddy’s range of possible prices for the summer months average closer to $3.60. All things considered, De Haan told me, “we got a little bit of breathing room.”
Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note to clients last week that gasoline stockpiles “remain close to the 5-year average level and are not drawing as strongly as usual for this time of year,” which puts downward pressure on prices. U.S. demand is hovering below 9 million barrels these days, which is right about the average demand in 2023, indicating that some consumer weakness may be responsible for relatively mild gas prices.
Weaker-than-expected demand for gasoline would be consistent with other signs of the American consumer being slightly less spendy in recent months. Overall retail sales in April were basically flat from the month before, according to Census Bureau data, and came in lower than economists’ expectations. Sales at gasoline stations were down 0.8% in the first four months of this year compared to the first four months of 2023, despite overall spending going up 3.5% from the same period a year ago.
What can be good for drivers may not be so great for investors and the gasoline complex at large. “It’s undeniable to say that there’s some trouble in gasoline land,” Rory Johnston, a commodities analyst and author of Commodity Context, told me. “In terms of whether it’s supply or demand more broadly, as always, it’s a bit of both.”
Whatever the cause, it will mean less profit for refiners, especially compared to the record outperformance they’ve seen in recent years.
“Gasoline prices and refining margins have come under pressure,” Reuters reported last week, meaning that refineries are making a bit less than before on the difference between crude oil and gasoline prices. Inventories are also being run down more slowly than is normal for the pre-summer season, the report said, “indicating supplies are plentiful, and undermining the bullish case for the fuel.”
And yet if it’s destructive enough, just one hurricane could upend that
entire narrative. When Hurricane Harvey parked its torrential rains over
Houston in 2017, it took a
big
chunk of the U.S. refinery complex offline, pushing gas prices up
$0.36 in just two weeks.
While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has yet to release its official hurricane forecast for the year, The Weather Company has predicted that the 2024 season “could be one of the most active on record.” If those hurricanes hit the wrong parts of the Gulf Coast, the expected mild summer for America’s internal combustion-dependent drivers may be blown away.
https://heatmap.news/economy/gas-prices-summer-hurricanes
It Took More Than 4 Days to Put Out This Battery Fire
date: 2024-05-20, from: Heatmap News
A fire at a battery storage site in San Diego County appears to have been extinguished after burning on and off for multiple days and nights.
“There is no visible smoke or active fire at the scene,” Cal Fire, the state fire protection agency, said in an update Monday morning.
The fire started sometime Wednesday at the Gateway Energy Storage facility, a 250 megawatt battery electric storage system in Otay Mesa, which is immediately adjacent both to the eastern border of San Diego and to the northern border of Mexico and near the Richard J. Donovan state prison facility.
Firefighters first succeeded in putting out the blaze on Thursday, “but a flare-up later that night brought firefighters back to the scene,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Firefighters continued working on the flames all weekend. As late as Sunday, there were 40 firefighters at the scene, according to Union-Tribune reporters.
Gateway’s owner and operator is LS Power, which has not responded to a request for comment as of publication time. LS Power operates several battery electric storage facilities in both California and New York. Gateway went into operation in 2020, as did many battery storage projects in California. Its purpose is to charge when energy is cheap or when there’s plentiful solar power so that it can deliver that excess energy back to the grid at times of high demand.
Fires have been a recurring problem for the battery electric storage industry, which may be one reason why, according to Heatmap polling, it is the form of carbon-free power least popular with the general public. Firefighters need specific training to deal with battery fires, and “thermal runaway” — i.e. one cell overheating and igniting leading to another cell doing so and so on — can mean that fires last for several days at very high temperatures.
On Saturday, Cal Fire reported that “lithium batteries continue to experience thermal runaway,” and that the fire had “burned through part of the roof.” As of now, fire personnel are “on standby in case additional batteries undergo thermal runaway.”
https://heatmap.news/sparks/california-battery-fire
Open Source Hardware Camp 2024 — Sat 24th & Sun 25th August, Hebden Bridge, UK
date: 2024-05-20, from: Tilde.news
Pew: Quarter of web pages vanished in past decade
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Luckily we have the Wayback Machine
The web is melting away like so many glaciers these days.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/webpages_vanish_decade/
Volvo EX30 RWD Noticeably More Efficient Than AWD In Video Range Test
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
Buyers can count on a longer driving range of roughly one-tenth when sticking with a single-motor version.
https://insideevs.com/news/720293/volvo-ex30-rwd-range-test-bjorn/
NASA Selects BAE Systems to Develop Ocean Color Instrument for NOAA
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has selected BAE Systems (formerly known as Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation) of Boulder, Colorado, to develop an instrument to analyze ocean data as part of NOAA’s Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite program. This cost-plus-award-fee contract is valued at approximately $450 million. It includes […]
Ivan Boesky, stock trader convicted in insider trading scandal, dies at 87
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
Microsoft’s 7th-gen Surface Laptop is a Copilot+ PC with “up to 22 hours” of battery life
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
Microsoft is taking pre-orders for its new 7th-gen Surface Laptop. Prices start at $1000 for a model with a 13.8 inch display or $1300 for models with a 15 inch screen. But it’s not just the bigger screen that drives up the price. The smaller model is available with a choice of Qualcomm Snapdragon X […]
The post Microsoft’s 7th-gen Surface Laptop is a Copilot+ PC with “up to 22 hours” of battery life appeared first on Liliputing.
This $100,000 off-road EV sports car with Jaguar influence is now available to order
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
With influence from the designer behind the Aston Martin Vanquish and Jaguar I-Pace, the Callum Skye is a fierce-looking off-road EV sports car. The latest Ian Callum creation is now available to order.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/this-100000-off-road-ev-sports-car-is-now-available-to-order/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-20, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Cheez-It Opened the Cheez-In Diner in Woodstock, New York.
https://www.foodandwine.com/cheez-it-cheez-in-diner-woodstock-new-york-8650808
Italy Seizes Fiat Topolino EVs Over Use Of Tiny Italian Flag Emblem
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
Italy’s strict laws prohibiting the branding of non-Italian made goods, and this tiny sticker held up more than 130 cars at port.
https://insideevs.com/news/720276/italy-seizes-fiat-topolino-flag/
May 22: COC Board, Foundation Joint Business Meeting
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, along with the COC Foundation Board of Directors, will hold a joint business meeting Wednesday, May 22, beginning at 5 p.m
https://scvnews.com/may-22-coc-board-foundation-joint-business-meeting/
Mushroom Hunters Stumble Upon Mysterious Stone Sculpture in Thai Forest
date: 2024-05-20, from: Smithsonian Magazine
While the artwork’s age is still unknown, some think it depicts the mother of the Buddha
A moment of daily practice
date: 2024-05-20, from: Manu - I write blog
<p>I have a longer post to write about meditation and my relationships with the practice. For now, I’ll just say I’m glad to be sitting here again.</p>
<hr>
<p>Thank you for keeping RSS alive. You're awesome.</p>
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https://manuelmoreale.com/@/page/8sov4eI3H11KCMwX
55 Years Ago: Two Months Until the Moon Landing
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
The march to the first Moon landing took a giant leap forward in May 1969 with the successful completion of Apollo 10, essentially a dress rehearsal for the landing mission. During their eight-day flight, the all-veteran Apollo 10 crew of Thomas P. Stafford, John W. Young, and Eugene A. Cernan rehearsed nearly every aspect of […]
https://www.nasa.gov/history/55-years-ago-two-months-until-the-moon-landing/
NASA, Sierra Space Deliver Dream Chaser to Florida for Launch Preparation
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
As part of NASA’s efforts to expand commercial resupply in low Earth orbit, Sierra Space’s uncrewed spaceplane arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of its first flight to the International Space Station. The Dream Chaser spaceplane, named Tenacity, arrived at Kennedy on May 18 inside a climate-controlled transportation container from NASA’s Neil Armstrong […]
Astronaut Exercise
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
Science in Space: May 2024 Future missions to the Moon and Mars must address many challenges, including preventing loss of bone and muscle tissue in astronauts. Research on the International Space Station is helping to address this challenge. Without Earth’s gravity, both bone and muscle atrophy, or become smaller and weaker. Early on, scientists realized […]
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/astronaut-exercise/
Intel’s Lunar Lake chips coming to Windows Copilot+ PCs in Q3, 2024
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The first PCs to support Microsoft’s new Copilot+ experience may all be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series processors. But Microsoft announced that it’s also partnering with Intel and AMD. And now we know when to expect some of the first Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. Intel says it will release its Lunar Lake processor lineup during […]
The post Intel’s Lunar Lake chips coming to Windows Copilot+ PCs in Q3, 2024 appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/intels-lunar-lake-chips-coming-to-windows-copilot-pcs-in-q3-2024/
Ed Dwight, the First Black Astronaut Candidate in the U.S., Finally Travels to Space at 90 Years Old
date: 2024-05-20, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The former Air Force pilot trained to become an astronaut in the 1960s but was never selected by NASA. On a Blue Origin flight Sunday, he became the oldest person to go to space
Renault is putting its Level 4 autonomous shuttle into production
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Renault doesn’t think fully autonomous vehicle have a place in the private vehicle market – but pulic transit? That’s a different story, and Renault is partnering with WeRide to put this Level 4 autonomous shuttle bus into production.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/renault-is-putting-its-level-4-autonomous-shuttle-into-production/
iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1
date: 2024-05-20, from: Michael Tsai
Juli Clover (no release notes, no security, no developer): According to Apple’s release notes, the updates include a fix for an issue that could cause images to reappear in the Photos library even after being deleted. Mysk: MarketplaceKit updated in iOS 17.5.1. Now it returns a consistent client ID per device, but the ID is […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/05/20/ios-17-5-1-and-ipados-17-5-1/
Safari Hover Link Preview Keyboard Shortcut
date: 2024-05-20, from: Michael Tsai
Jeff Johnson (Mastodon): Pressing control-command-d (⌃⌘D) while hovering over a link in Safari opens a popup window containing a preview of the linked web page, just like pressing and holding down a link in Safari on iOS.Apple does say that you can preview a link in a webpage in Safari on Mac with a Force […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/05/20/safari-hover-link-preview-keyboard-shortcut/
Swift FormatStyle Issues
date: 2024-05-20, from: Michael Tsai
Wade Tregaskis: They’re terser than using their otherwise more powerful cousins the Formatters, as they support a “fluent” style of property-based access, which tends to read more naturally and usually avoids having to define variables to hold the formatter.[…]They almost always break Xcode’s auto-complete, which is a problem since their syntax is non-trivial and unintuitive.They’re […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/05/20/swift-formatstyle-issues/
Sutskever and Leike Out at OpenAI
date: 2024-05-20, from: Michael Tsai
Sigal Samuel (tweet): For months, OpenAI has been losing employees who care deeply about making sure AI is safe. Now, the company is positively hemorrhaging them. Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike announced their departures from OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, on Tuesday. They were the leaders of the company’s superalignment team — the team tasked […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/05/20/sutskever-and-leike-out-at-openai/
iOS 17.5 Resurfacing Deleted Photos
date: 2024-05-20, from: Michael Tsai
Juli Clover: A Reddit user wiped an iPad following Apple’s guidelines in September of 2023 before selling it off to a friend. That friend updated the iPad to iPadOS 17.5 this week, and began seeing the Reddit user’s old photos reappearing in the Photos app. That would be very concerning because it would imply that […]
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2024/05/20/ios-17-5-resurfacing-deleted-photos/
EVs now beat rail as the largest electricity consumer in the US transport sector
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Light-duty EVs in the US used more electricity than rail systems for the first time in 2023, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/evs-rail-largest-electricity-consumer-us-transport-sector/
Hart District Special Meeting to Discuss Superintendent Search Process
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board will hold a special meeting Tuesday, May 21, at 1 p.m. to discuss the process for its superintendent search.
https://scvnews.com/hart-district-special-meeting-to-discuss-superintendent-search-process/
‘The Apprentice,’ about a young Donald Trump, premieres in Cannes
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
CANNES, France — While Donald Trump’s hush money trial entered its sixth week in New York, an origin story for the Republican presidential candidate premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday, unveiling a scathing portrait of the former president in the 1980s.
“The Apprentice,” directed by the Iranian Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump. The central relationship of the movie is between Trump and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the defense attorney who was chief counsel to Joseph McCarthy’s 1950s Senate investigations.
Cohn is depicted as a longtime mentor to Trump, coaching him in the ruthlessness of New York City politics and business. Early on, Cohn aided the Trump Organization when it was being sued by the federal government for racial discrimination in housing.
“The Apprentice,” which is labeled as inspired by true events, portrays Trump’s dealings with Cohn as a Faustian bargain that guided his rise as a businessman and, later, as a politician. Stan’s Trump is initially a more naive real-estate striver, soon transformed by Cohn’s education.
The film notably contains a scene depicting Trump raping his wife, Ivana Trump (played by Maria Bakalova). In Ivana Trump’s 1990 divorce deposition, she stated that Trump raped her. Trump denied the allegation and Ivana Trump later said she didn’t mean it literally, but rather that she had felt violated.
That scene and others make “The Apprentice” a potentially explosive big-screen drama in the midst of the U.S. presidential election. The film is for sale in Cannes, so it doesn’t yet have a release date.
Variety on Monday reported alleged behind-the-scenes drama surrounding “The Apprentice.” Citing anonymous sources, the trade publication reported that billionaire Dan Snyder, the former owner of the Washington Commanders and an investor in “The Apprentice,” has pressured the filmmakers to edit the film over its portrayal of Trump. Snyder previously donated to Trump’s presidential campaign.
Neither representatives for the film nor Snyder could immediately be reached for comment.
In the press notes for the film, Abbasi, whose previous film “Holy Spider” depicts a female journalist investigating a serial killer in Iran, said he didn’t set out to make “a History Channel episode.”
“This is not a biopic of Donald Trump,” said Abbasi. “We’re not interested in every detail of his life going from A to Z. We’re interested in telling a very specific story through his relationship with Roy and Roy’s relationship with him.”
Regardless of its political impact, “The Apprentice” is likely to be much discussed as a potential awards contender. The film, shot in a gritty 1980’s aesthetic, returns Strong to a New York landscape of money and power a year following the conclusion of HBO’s “Succession.” Strong, who’s currently performing on Broadway in “An Enemy of the People,” didn’t attend the Cannes premiere Monday.
“The Apprentice” is playing in competition in Cannes, making it eligible for the festival’s top award, the Palme d’Or. At Cannes, filmmakers and casts hold press conferences the day after a movie’s premiere. “The Apprentice” press conference will be Tuesday.
https://www.voanews.com/a/the-apprentice-about-a-young-donald-trump-premieres-in-cannes/7619739.html
Save $390 on Anker’s SOLIX C1000 power station at $609 low, WORX tools 38% off, Jackery units up to $2,000 off, more
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Kicking off this week’s Green Deals are three chances to save during current Memorial Day sales events – on Amazon and beyond. Headlining the lineup is the Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station that just fell to a new $609 low for a limited-time. It is joined by a collection of discounted WORX garden and lawncare equipment that is seeing up to 38% off discounts, starting from $65, as well as all the discounts happening during Jackery’s Memorial Day offers – up to $2,000 off! Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals that are still alive and well.
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.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/ankers-solix-c1000-power-station-worx-tools-jackery-units-more/
May 19, 2024
date: 2024-05-20, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-19-2024-ab6
Hm! Boeing union just ran whistleblower rights training
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Staff decibel level is high - and not just from all those jet engines
A union representing Boeing employees held a training session last week on whistleblower protection rights, suggesting the troubled jetmaker’s problems may be far from over. …
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/boeing_whistleblower_training/
Has the Mystery of the ‘Mona Lisa’ Background Been Solved?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Smithsonian Magazine
Ann Pizzorusso, a geologist and art historian, says she’s identified the location in the background of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mona-lisa-background-mystery-180984377/
Samsung introduces Galaxy Book4 Edge 14 and 16 inch laptops with Snapdragon X
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
Samsung’s new Galaxy Book4 Edge line of laptops are premium thin and light notebooks with 3K AMOLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors. The new Galaxy Book4 Edge comes with a choice of 14 or 16 inch display options. The smaller model ships standard with a 12-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 processor, while the larger version […]
The post Samsung introduces Galaxy Book4 Edge 14 and 16 inch laptops with Snapdragon X appeared first on Liliputing.
HP OmniBook X 14 inch and EliteBook Ultra G1q laptops with Snapdragon X Elite coming in June
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
HP says its new AI PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips are a whole “new class of next-generation AI PCs.” So the company developed a new AI Helix logo to slap on computers with high-performance NPUs for on-device AI processing. And the company has also stepped outside of the naming scheme it’s been using in […]
The post HP OmniBook X 14 inch and EliteBook Ultra G1q laptops with Snapdragon X Elite coming in June appeared first on Liliputing.
Acer Swift 14 with Snapdragon X coming in July for $1100 and up
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The new Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-11) is Acer’s first laptop sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor for all-day battery life, competitive CPU and graphics performance, and an integrated NPU capable of 45 TOPS of AI performance. Acer says the thin and light Windows 11 laptop will be available in several configurations, including models with Snapdragon […]
The post Acer Swift 14 with Snapdragon X coming in July for $1100 and up appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/acer-swift-14-with-snapdragon-x-coming-in-july-for-1100-and-up/
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with Snapdragon X Plus is up for pre-order for $1099 and up
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
Dell’s Inspiron-branded laptops tend to be budget or mid-range devices that offer decent bang for the buck when it comes to the processor, memory, and storage, but which lack some of the premium materials or thin and light designs you’ll find in the company’s higher-priced XPS notebooks. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is sort of a […]
The post Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with Snapdragon X Plus is up for pre-order for $1099 and up appeared first on Liliputing.
Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite is available for pre-order for $1299 and up
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The Dell XPS 13 laptop is a premium thin and light notebook that’s been around for more than a decade. This year Dell updated the XPS 13 with a major redesign that’s controversial, to say the least. But it looks like the company is sticking with the new design, because the company’s first XPS 13 […]
The post Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite is available for pre-order for $1299 and up appeared first on Liliputing.
2024 Toyota bZ4X EPA Range And Energy Consumption: How Does It Compare To Tesla Model Y?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
The numbers highlight the efficiency and battery capacity gap between the two EVs.
https://insideevs.com/news/720261/2024-toyota-bz4x-epa-range-energy-consumption/
Johnson Celebrates AA and NHPI Heritage Month: Anima Patil-Sabale
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
Anima Patil-Sabale has been shooting for the stars since she was a little girl growing up in India. Inspired by books about the Apollo-era space program, Patil-Sabale decided she would be an astronaut one day. For the first step on her journey to space, Patil-Sabale hoped to become a fighter pilot, but India did not […]
Toyota to launch a Prius-like bZ3C electric crossover, but you can’t have it
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
To keep up with surging BYD, Tesla, and other EV makers, Toyota is launching a new all-electric crossover. The Toyota bZ3C looks like the new Prius, but the electric SUV crossover won’t be available in the US.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/toyota-launch-prius-like-bz3c-electric-suv-but-you-cant-have-it/
Microsoft unveils Copilot+ PC platform for AI-enhanced Windows PCs, starting with models powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The first Windows PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips are on the way, and Microsoft says they’ll be the first in a new line of Copilot+ PCs capable of supporting a next-gen version of Windows 11 with several major new features. The first models go up for pre-order today for $999 and up, and should be […]
The post Microsoft unveils Copilot+ PC platform for AI-enhanced Windows PCs, starting with models powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips appeared first on Liliputing.
XPeng rolls out AI-powered OS with 2K pure vision ADAS, CEO promises L4 autonomous driving by 2025
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
XPeng Motors is rolling out cutting-edge AI technology that it hopes will transform the automotive industry from “electrification to smartification.” The Chinese EV automaker held an AI Day event earlier today, detailing the impressive capabilities of XOS 5.1.0, “AI Tianji,” which it hailed as “the industry’s first AI-powered in-car OS.”
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/xpeng-rolls-out-ai-powered-os-neural-network-2k-pure-vision-ev/
Google takes shots at Microsoft for shoddy security record with enterprise apps
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Also, feds who switch to Google Workspace for 3 years get an extra year for free
Updated Google has taken a victory lap in the wake of high-profile intrusions into Microsoft’s systems, and says businesses should ditch Exchange and OneDrive for Gmail and Google Drive.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/google_takes_shots_at_microsoft/
Readying Apollo 10 for Launch
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
The Apollo 10 spacecraft stands, illuminated by launch pad spotlights, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in this photo from May 4, 1969. It launched on May 18, 1969, with astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, Eugene A. Cernan, and John W. Young aboard. The Apollo 10 mission encompassed all aspects of an actual crewed lunar landing, […]
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/readying-apollo-10-for-launch/
Road (Enthusiast) Rage?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Status-Q blog
Many years ago, we discovered that audiobooks are a wonderful way to make long journeys seem shorter, and seldom does a motorway junction go by without it being accompanied by a snatch of, say, Jules Verne, PG Wodehouse, Arthur Ransome, Neville Shute or Patrick O’Brian. Aside: This is one reason why I’m delighted with Continue Reading
https://statusq.org/archives/2024/05/20/12073/
Bob Dylan Traded This Painting in Exchange for an Astrology Reading
date: 2024-05-20, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The musician created the artwork in the 1960s while recovering from a motorcycle accident in Woodstock, New York
Tech Today: From Spacesuits to Racing Suits
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
For spacewalks to even be possible, spacesuits need insulation and temperature controls to withstand temperature swings between 250 and minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme environment made NASA innovators look beyond everyday materials to find something unique to keep explorers comfortable and safe. In the 1980s, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston entered into a […]
WikiLeaks’ Assange can appeal US extradition on freedom of speech grounds
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
The U.S. government’s attempts to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from Britain on charges of espionage took another legal twist Monday, as judges ruled that he must be given the right to a full appeal against the order — based on freedom of speech. Henry Ridgwell has more from London.
Watch a Blue-Green Comet Illuminate Skies Over Spain and Portugal
date: 2024-05-20, from: Smithsonian Magazine
The colorful fireball mesmerized onlookers—and its unexpected appearance surprised astronomers who are hoping to better predict when space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere
Notes on Post-Pandemic Business Travel
date: 2024-05-20, from: TidBITS blog
Adam Engst took his first business trip in four years and discovered that some things have changed. He took advantage of packing and flight tracking apps, got free Wi-Fi on several flights, discovered that USB Type-A to USB-C cables are essential, learned that TSA PreCheck is easier to get, and ran across his second App Clip ever.
https://tidbits.com/2024/05/20/notes-on-post-pandemic-business-travel/
Oh Sonos! App update borks users’ favorite features and worse
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Blind customers complain they’ve been forgotten in rollout of latest UI
Sonos has alienated chunks of its customer base after releasing a revamped app for its music boxes that strips users of often-used features, including making it nearly “impossible” for the vision impaired.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/sonos_app_update_borks_users/
Chinese EV Companies Are Falling Behind On Their Bills
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
Nio took nearly 300 days to clear its dues in 2023, compared to 197 days in 2021.
https://insideevs.com/news/720304/chinese-ev-brands-fall-behind-supplier-payments/
NASA Study Provides New Look at Orbital Debris, Potential Solutions
date: 2024-05-20, from: NASA breaking news
New data analysis indicates that NASA and its partners could have more cost-effective methods for dealing with the growing issue of orbital debris than previously thought. A new report from NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy provides agency leadership with new insight about how to measure the risks presented by orbital debris. “Growing activity […]
Ten Productions Filming in Santa Clarita
date: 2024-05-20, from: SCV New (TV Station)
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of 10 productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, May 20 - Sunday, May
https://scvnews.com/ten-productions-filming-in-santa-clarita/
ONEXPLAYER X1 Mini is a small(er) Ryzen 7 8840U gaming tablet with an 8.8 inch display and detachable controllers
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The ONEXPLAYER X1 Mini is an upcoming handheld gaming PC with an 8.8 inch display featuring a 144 Hz refresh rate, and AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor with Radeon 780M integrated graphics, and a pair of detachable controllers that let you quickly switch between using the computer as a handheld or a tablet. While an 8.8 […]
The post ONEXPLAYER X1 Mini is a small(er) Ryzen 7 8840U gaming tablet with an 8.8 inch display and detachable controllers appeared first on Liliputing.
GM says EV hurdles are ‘not an issue now’ as new models roll out
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
GM had its fair share of EV hurdles last year, leading to disappointing sales. However, CEO Mary Barra says those bottlenecks are a thing of the past as new models like the Chevy Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs hit the market.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/gm-ev-hurdles-not-an-issue-now-new-models-roll-out/
Can I phone a friend? How cops circumvent face recognition bans
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Just ask a pal in a neighboring town with laxer restrictions
Updated Police in multiple major US cities have figured out a trick to circumvent bans on facial recognition technology. Just ask a friend in a city without any such restrictions to do it for you.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/cops_circumvent_facial_recognition/
Rivian Recalls Some R1S And R1T EVs Because It Forgot A Label
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
It’s a very important label, of course.
https://insideevs.com/news/720278/rivian-r1s-r1t-recall-airbag-label/
MINISFORUM V3 tablet w/Ryzen 7 8840U launches for $1199
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The MINISFORUM V3 is a Windows tablet with a 14 inch, 2560 x 1600 pixel, 165 Hz display, an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor, and what MINISFORUM calls a “3-in-1” design. That’s because it comes with a keyboard that allows you to use the tablet like a laptop and because it also has supports video input, […]
The post MINISFORUM V3 tablet w/Ryzen 7 8840U launches for $1199 appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/minisforum-v3-tablet-w-ryzen-7-8840u-launches-for-1199/
As clicks dry up for news sites, could Apple News be a lifeline?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Ben Werdmuller’s blog
<div class="known-bookmark">
<div class="e-content">“The free version of Apple News is one of the biggest news platforms in the world. It’s the most widely used news application in the United States, the U.K., Canada, and Australia, and boasted over 125 million monthly users in 2020.”
And publications are becoming dependent on it.
I agree strongly with the journalist’s view at the bottom of this piece:
“It incentivizes users to subscribe to Apple News+ rather than to publications directly, likely cannibalizing some potential revenue. It’s driving editorial decisions, meaning publishers are once again changing their content strategy to placate a platform. And of course the company could wake up one day and decide, like Facebook, that it no longer really wants to be in the news business, leaving news publishers stranded.”
Newsrooms - say it with me - need to establish direct, first-party connections with their audiences. Anything else gives a third party too much supplier power over their businesses and presents an existential risk. Apple News is useful right now, but at its heart the dynamics that drive it are no different to Facebook or Twitter. There’s nothing to say it’s here for good, and there’s nothing smart about letting Apple own your relationship with your readers. #Media
<p>[<a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/05/19/2024/as-clicks-dry-up-for-news-sites-could-apples-news-app-be-a-lifeline">Link</a>]</p>
</div>
</div>Asus ExpertCenter PN65 mini PC with Intel Meteor Lake now available
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The Asus ExpertCenter PN65 is a small desktop computer with support for up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Meteor Lake processor, up to 96GB of DDR5 memory, and up to three storage devices. First unveiled in January, the computer is now available for purchase from the Asus website for $759 and up. The starting […]
The post Asus ExpertCenter PN65 mini PC with Intel Meteor Lake now available appeared first on Liliputing.
https://liliputing.com/asus-expertcenter-pn65-mini-pc-with-intel-meteor-lake-now-available/
The IndieWeb’s next stage?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Ben Werdmuller’s blog
<div class="known-bookmark">
<div class="e-content">“I want the IndieWeb to be a viable alternative to social media, gradually widening the audience beyond tech-savvy folks by making the tools easier to use and more reliable.”
This is what we were trying for with Known: something that felt social but was fully under the user’s control. We had installers at third-party hosts; we had our own managed service; we had the open source code for people who wanted to use that directly.
The fediverse adds a missing piece here: Known suffered immensely from a blank page and no reader view when you logged in for the first time. Now we can build platforms that immediately connect people to a much wider social network that is outside of monolithic corporate control but also makes it (relatively) easy to find the people you care about.
A combination between the fediverse and indieweb is almost inevitable. This is what Ghost appears to be building today, for example, with its new integrated fediverse reader tool. WordPress may also be headed in that direction. And there will be many others.
A huge +1, also, to the idea that we can “manifest momentum by speaking aloud your dreams and letting others share them with you”. This is how community-building works.
And, for the record, I’m all-in. #Technology
<p>[<a href="https://tracydurnell.com/2024/05/17/indieweb-next-stage/">Link</a>]</p>
</div>
</div>https://tracydurnell.com/2024/05/17/indieweb-next-stage/
MINISFORUM AtomMan X7 TI now available for pre-order (Mini PC with Core Ultra 9 185H and a 4 inch touchscreen display)
date: 2024-05-20, from: Liliputing
The MINISFORUM AtomMan X7 Ti is one of the first mini PCs with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H Meteor Lake processor featuring Intel Arc integrated graphics. But that’s just one of the things that makes this little computer unusual. First announced earlier this month, the AtomMan X7 Ti also features an OCuLink connector for external […]
The post MINISFORUM AtomMan X7 TI now available for pre-order (Mini PC with Core Ultra 9 185H and a 4 inch touchscreen display) appeared first on Liliputing.
Another week, another leak for Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
This bird isn’t going to space for a while
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule will spend a little longer on Earth than planned following the discovery of a leak in one of the spacecraft’s reaction control thrusters.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/starliner_launch_delayed_again/
Elon Musk confirms his threat: give me 25% of Tesla or you don’t get AI and robotics
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Elon Musk appears to confirmed and even clarify what can be seen as a threat to Tesla shareholders: give me 25% of the company or I won’t build AI and robotic products at the company, after making clear that the company is worthless without those.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/elon-musk-confirms-threat-give-me-25-of-tesla-or-no-ai-robotics/
Red Lobster’s woes go beyond just bottomless shrimp
date: 2024-05-20, from: Marketplace Morning Report
The popular Red Lobster restaurant seafood chain has officially filed for bankruptcy protection. The eatery has struggled with high labor costs, expensive leases and a popular promotion that ate into profits. Today, we’ll trace back Red Lobster’s struggles. Then, the final results of major New York auction house sales show the art world is struggling to overcome a recession. And later: What’s it like living in a multigenerational residential community?
It’s your last chance to double your impact during our May fundraiser — the Investors Challenge Fund is matching donations up to $25,000 today! Give right now!
The Chevrolet Camaro Could Return As A $34,995 Pony EV: GM President
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
The Camaro EV will have four doors and a non-crossover shape if GM President Mark Reuss has his way.
https://insideevs.com/news/720226/chevrolet-camaro-ev-sedan-price/
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Omar Khadr had waived his right to appeal when he pleaded guilty in 2010 to charges that included murder. But his lawyers argued that a subsequent ruling by the federal appeals court in Washington called into question whether Khadr could have been charged with the crimes in the first place.
A divided three-judge panel ruled that, despite the appellate ruling, Khadr gave up his right to appeal.
Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson did not take part in the Supreme Court’s consideration of Khadr’s appeal because both had dealt with the case while they served as appeals court judges. Jackson explained her recusal from Monday’s order; Kavanaugh did not.
Khadr had been sentenced to eight years in prison plus the time he already had spent in custody, including several years at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But he was released in May 2015 pending his appeal of the guilty plea.
A Canadian judge ruled in 2019 that his war crimes sentence had expired.
Khadr was 15 when he was captured by U.S. troops following a firefight at a suspected al-Qaida compound in Afghanistan that resulted in the death of an American special forces medic, U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer. Khadr, who was suspected of throwing the grenade that killed Speer, was taken to Guantanamo and ultimately charged with war crimes by a military commission.
https://www.voanews.com/a/7619408.html
AI might be coming for your job, but Sam Altman can’t go on dinner dates anymore
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
As OpenAI’s safety culture comes under scrutiny, CEO bemoans his lack of privacy
Spare a thought for poor Sam Altman. Amid the ongoing drama that is OpenAI, with high-profile departures and regulators worrying about safety, the CEO is complaining that his fame put an end to impromptu dining in his own city.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/openai_safety_culture/
AI Needs Enormous Computing Power. Could Light-Based Chips Help?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Quanta Magazine
Optical neural networks, which use photons instead of electrons, have advantages over traditional systems. They also face major obstacles.The post AI Needs Enormous Computing Power. Could Light-Based Chips Help? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Volvo reveals $28,000 EX30 starting price in China as low-cost BYD rival
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
The cheapest Volvo EV so far was officially launched in China over the weekend. Volvo launched the EX30 in China with a low starting price of $27,800 (200,800 yuan) as the automaker takes on BYD head-on in its home market.
https://electrek.co/2024/05/20/volvo-reveals-28000-ex30-starting-price-china-rival-byd/
GM CEO Says Electric Car Issues Are ‘Absolutely’ In The Past
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
We’ll see, won’t we? Plus, Kia also ups its hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, and we look at what went wrong with Mercedes’ EV push.
https://insideevs.com/news/720296/critical-materials-barra-software-gm/
Ship that caused deadly Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated, moving back to port
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
Baltimore — The container ship that caused the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge was refloated at high tide Monday and began slowly moving back to port, guided by several tugboats.
Removing the Dali from the wreckage marked a significant step in ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts. Nearly two months have passed since the ship lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns, killing six construction workers and halting most maritime traffic through Baltimore’s busy port.
The vessel appeared to start moving shortly after 6 a.m. It started and stopped a few times before slowly and steadily backing away from the collapse site, where it had been grounded since the March 26 disaster.
Pieces of the bridge’s steel trusses still protruded from its damaged bow, which remained covered in mangled concrete from the collapsed roadway.
With the hulking cargo ship finally removed from the mouth of Baltimore’s harbor, a newly opened void appeared in the city’s skyline. The altered waterscape also highlighted the progress made on the cleanup effort; crews have already removed hundreds of tons of mangled steel that once were visible jutting up from the water’s surface.
The bodies of all six construction workers have been recovered from the underwater wreckage in recent weeks. All the victims were Latino immigrants who came to the U.S. for job opportunities. They were filling potholes on an overnight shift when the bridge was destroyed.
Officials said the Dali would move at about 1 mph on the roughly 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) trip back to port, a fraction of the speed it was traveling when it lost power and brought down the bridge.
The ship is expected to remain in the port for a several weeks and undergo temporary repairs before being moved to a shipyard for more substantial repairs. It will return to the same marine terminal it occupied before beginning its ill-fated voyage.
Crews began preparing the ship to be refloated about 18 hours before it started moving Monday morning. That process included releasing anchors and pumping out over 1 million gallons of water that were keeping the ship grounded and stable during complex cleanup operations. Crews conducted a controlled demolition on May 13 to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed bridge, which was draped across the Dali’s bow.
Dive teams also completed inspections of the site to confirm there were no obstructions that would hinder the voyage.
The Dali experienced two electrical blackouts about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore on its way to Sri Lanka, according to a preliminary report released last week by the National Transportation Safety Board. In response to those issues, the crew made changes to the ship’s electrical configuration, switching to a transformer and breaker system that had previously been out of use for several months, the report says.
The Dali experienced two more blackouts as it was approaching the Key Bridge, causing it to lose propulsion and drift off course at the exact wrong moment.
The two tugboats that helped guide the Dali out of the port had peeled off after it entered the main shipping channel. That was normal protocol, according to the report, but when the power went out, the tugs were too far away to help avert disaster.
The FBI has also launched a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash.
The ship’s crew members haven’t been allowed to leave the vessel since the disaster. Officials said they’ve been busy maintaining the ship and assisting investigators. Of the crew members, 20 are from India and one is Sri Lankan. Officials have said they will be able to disembark once the Dali is docked in Baltimore.
Officials plan to reopen the port’s 50-foot (15-meter) deep draft channel by the end of May. Until then, crews have established a temporary channel that’s slightly shallower.
https://www.voanews.com/a/7619350.html
Tesla releases update to remove steering wheel nag, shuts down sunglasses loophole
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
Tesla has started pushing its new Full Self-Driving (FSD) v12.4 update, and it confirmed the removal of the “steering wheel nag”, but it improved camera-based driver monitoring, including shutting down the sunglasses loophole.
No, You Shouldn’t Ride a Scooter With Your Child While Texting
date: 2024-05-20, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
For the love of all that is good, take extra care when riding with youngsters.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720203/reckless-scooter-rider-with-child-barcelona/
Nonconsensual AI Porn Maker Accidentally Leaks His Customers’ Emails
date: 2024-05-20, from: 404 Media Group
A Patreon account that sold nonconsensual AI-generated porn has exposed a list of customer emails to 404 Media.
https://www.404media.co/nonconsensual-ai-porn-maker-accidentally-leaks-his-customers-emails/
Michael Cohen says he stole $60,000 from Trump company
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-s-criminal-trial-is-nearing-the-end-/7619330.html
Researchers call out QNAP for dragging its heels on patch development
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
WatchTowr publishes report claiming vendor failed to issue fixes after four months
Infosec boffins say they were forced to go public after QNAP failed to fix various vulnerabilities that were reported to it months ago.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/qnap_watchtowr/
Tesla Celebrates 3,000,000th Electric Car Produced In Fremont
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
The factory has an installed annual vehicle capacity of over 650,000 EVs.
https://insideevs.com/news/720213/tesla-3000000th-ev-produced-fremont/
AI Chatbot Credited With Preventing Suicide. Should It Be?
date: 2024-05-20, from: 404 Media Group
A recent Stanford study found that some people credit Replika for saving their lives. But chatbots can be unpredictable, and users have also blamed the chatbot app for throwing them into mental crises.
https://www.404media.co/replika-suicide-prevention-loneliness-study/
Ruto on first state visit by Kenyan leader to US in two decades
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
Nairobi — Kenyan President William Ruto meets his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden in Washington this week, with the crisis in Haiti and efforts to build trade ties likely to top the agenda.
Billed as “historic” by Ruto’s office, it is the first state visit by a Kenyan president to the United States in two decades and the first by an African leader since 2008.
Thursday’s Biden-Ruto talks will focus on trade and security partnerships including Kenya’s pledge to lead a UN-backed multinational mission seeking to restore order in Haiti, which has been wracked by gang-fueled anarchy.
Kenya has offered to send 1,000 personnel, along with forces pledged by several other countries, although the United States and other major nations have ruled out putting their own forces on the ground.
A first batch of Kenyan police is expected to make the 12,000-kilometre (7,500-mile) journey to the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince this week, security sources told AFP, despite a fresh court challenge in Nairobi against the deployment.
Ruto has defended the undertaking as a “mission for humanity” in the Western hemisphere’s poorest nation, which has suffered from poverty, political instability and natural disasters for decades.
But a new lawsuit filed last week is seeking to hold Ruto’s government in contempt for “blatantly” ignoring a January court order prohibiting the deployment as unconstitutional and illegal.
Funding could also prove a stumbling block for the mission, analysts say.
The United States is the largest backer of the force, pledging more than $300 million since the Haiti crisis intensified several years ago but other countries have been slow to offer support.
Ruto will demand “the U.S. do more to rally financial support for the UN basket fund,” said Meron Elias, East and Southern Africa analyst at the International Crisis Group.
“Kenya also wants the U.S. to commit greater backing to stemming the flow of arms into Haiti, including from US ports in Florida,” she said.
Trade deal
Ruto begins his visit on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia where he will visit the Carter Presidential Library and Museum, among other engagements.
“His remarks here will underline the importance of democracies working collaboratively to tackle global challenges,” State House spokesman Hussein Mohamed said.
On Tuesday, he is due to visit studios owned by entertainment mogul Tyler Perry, who has championed greater diversity in Hollywood to “explore opportunities within the creative economy.”
Ruto will meet a Congressional delegation on Wednesday and call for the extension of a free trade agreement — the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) — which eliminates import tariffs on goods from eligible African nations.
The pact expires in 2025, prompting African leaders to seek clarity on future arrangements.
Most of Kenya’s imports are from China — also one of its biggest bilateral creditors — and Washington has been keen to eat into Beijing’s clout in the region.
The East African nation began talks with the United States on a free trade agreement in 2020 but nothing has been signed.
In 2022, the United States exported goods worth $604 million to Kenya while imports totaled $875 million, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Kenyan Trade Minister Rebecca Miano said there were “very big opportunities” for investment in the country.
“We have prepared more than 30 bankable projects worth over $20.5 billion to interest American investors and the Kenyan diaspora,” she told local media last week.
‘Extremely disappointed’
A request for Ruto to address a joint session of Congress fell through after House Speaker Mike Johnson of the Republican Party declined to extend an invitation.
Lawmakers from Biden’s Democratic Party last week accused Johnson of disrespecting Africa, saying they were “extremely disappointed” by the decision.
The last African leader to address Congress was Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the continent’s first female elected head of state, in 2006.
The visit “feels a bit like a fig leaf” for Africa, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, as it comes after Biden broke a promise to visit Africa last year.
Kenyan historian Macharia Munene also cautioned that Nairobi’s future relationship with Washington would hinge on the outcome of the November US presidential election.
Ruto is currently “America’s blue-eyed boy” and is “hobnobbing” with Biden, a situation that could change if Donald Trump wins the presidency again, he said in an opinion piece for The Standard newspaper.
DoJ, ByteDance ask court: Hurry up and rule on TikTok ban already
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Forced selloff case will likely be appealed again … see you in (Supreme) court
The US Department of Justice and Bytedance spent a rare moment unified on Friday when the duo asked for a fast-tracked court schedule for the Chinese short video apps divest or ban case.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/doj_and_bytedance_ask_court/
@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed (date: 2024-05-20, from: Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed)
Godot can blend your game with a binary payload to create a playable game for various platforms.
For iOS, this generates an Xcode project that you need to compile on a Mac.
I think this would suck for an iPad user. Wondering just how painful it would be to do the entire signing dance and integrate into AppStore Connect to publish apps directly from the iPad.
Anyone familiar with any apps trying to do this?
https://mastodon.social/@Migueldeicaza/112473573829542417
Red Hat middleware takes a back seat in strategic shuffle
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Less middleware plus more AI equals … fewer people?
Exclusive Red Hat is slowing or stopping development of some of its middleware software, a situation which could result in some staff layoffs.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/red_hat_prunes_middleware/
@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed (date: 2024-05-20, from: Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed)
Missed opportunities in the last six months:
Dune-themed avatar
Fallout-themed avatar
https://mastodon.social/@Migueldeicaza/112473519947835477
General Motors’ Plug-In Hybrids Are Coming Back To The U.S. In 2027
date: 2024-05-20, from: Inside EVs News
Almost 20 years after the Chevrolet Volt went into development, GM will bring back hybrid cars with a plug. Will Americans buy them?
https://insideevs.com/news/720220/gm-plug-in-hybrids-us/
How Worried Should We Be About Hail?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Heatmap News
Current conditions: Flooding killed nearly 100 people in Afghanistan over the weekend • Streets turned into rivers in southern Germany after heavy rain • It’s 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Delhi today, and the rest of the week will be hotter.
THE TOP FIVE
- Hail damage is making insurers nervous
Hail damage accounted for between 50% and 80% of the $64 billion in insured storm costs worldwide last year, according to international reinsurance firm Swiss Re. As storms become more frequent and more severe due to climate change, insurers are beginning to factor hail into their risk assessments on policies, Bloomberg reported. Such a move could result in higher rates for policyholders. Other customers could lose insurance altogether. Some insurers are “nervous to touch big solar farms” because of the incredible damage hail can do to solar panels. One insurer has started testing the durability of various panels by pummeling them with “industrially produced hail” and seeing how well they hold up.
- Mercedes workers in Alabama reject unionization push
Mercedes-Benz workers at a plant in Alabama voted last week against joining the United Auto Workers union. Just 2,045 workers out of about 5,000 voted in favor of unionizing, marking what Reuters called a “stinging loss” for the UAW, which has been pushing hard to expand membership across southern states after its contract deals with the Big Three in 2023. UAW also has its eyes on Tesla as a target for unionization. Last month the UAW found victory at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, where 73% of workers voted to unionize. But the results in Alabama are “a big setback,” explained NPR. Mercedes ran an aggressive anti-union campaign to convince workers to vote no, and Alabama politicians “framed the union vote as a threat to the state’s economic success.”
- Study: Heat waves are triggering asthma attacks in kids
A new study suggests extreme heat is leading to more hospital visits for children who have asthma. The researchers had access to hospital admission data for young asthma patients within the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospitals. They looked at whether the children who were admitted lived in an area that was experiencing a heat wave when they got sick, and found that “daytime heat waves were significantly associated with 19% higher odds of children’s asthma hospital visits, and longer duration of heat waves doubled the odds of hospital visits.” More than 4.5 million children have the lung condition in the U.S.
- Public charging infrastructure isn’t keeping pace with EV growth
A report from The Washington Post confirms what many drivers of electric vehicles probably already know: Public charging infrastructure in the U.S. isn’t growing fast enough. For every public charging point in the country, there are more than 20 EVs. Compare that to 2016, when there were seven EVs for each charging point, and it becomes clear charger installations aren’t matching growing demand. “As Americans purchase more and more EVs, public chargers will be essential to support long road trips, help apartment-dwellers go electric and alleviate overnight pressure on electricity grids,” the Post reported. President Biden has a goal of installing half a million charging stations by 2030 and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $5 billion for states to kickstart that effort, but as of March, only seven stations had been built in four states as a result of the program.
- First Solar becomes world’s most valuable solar company
First Solar recently became the world’s most valuable solar company, Bloomberg reported. This is the first time in six years a U.S. firm has claimed the position over Chinese rivals. Stock gains on Friday helped the company overtake Sungrow Power Supply, which saw its shares fall at the same time. First Solar is the biggest U.S. manufacturer of solar panels. While its valuation is up, and U.S. solar firms will get a boost from higher tariffs on Chinese clean tech goods, “by most other metrics, including the vital one of being able to produce enough clean energy to fight climate change, First Solar still has a way to go to catch up with its Chinese counterparts,” Bloomberg said.
THE KICKER
“The chances of politicians acting swiftly are probably better than they have been in the past. Not because of new scientific findings, but because solar, wind, and batteries have become so cheap so fast that the amount of pain involved in the transition to clean energy is far less than it would have been a decade ago. We could actually do this.” –Bill McKibben on remaining optimistic, even as the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius seems further out of reach.
https://heatmap.news/climate/hail-storm-damage-insurance
@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed (date: 2024-05-20, from: Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed)
A speck of slightly not terrible news, after seven months of horrors:
https://mastodon.social/@Migueldeicaza/112473439600691975
KDE Plasma 6 comes to OpenBSD
date: 2024-05-20, from: OS News
Last year marked a significant milestone for both myself and the OpenBSD desktop community, as we successfully ported KDE Plasma 5 and all dependencies to OpenBSD. With the release of OpenBSD 7.5 on April 5, 2024, KDE Plasma in version 5.27.10 has become a part of our lovely operating system. This success is the result of years of development work and commitment to achieving this goal. KDE launched version 6 of its Plasma desktop environment on February 28, 2024, bringing numerous updates and features as well as the major switch to Qt6. I am immensely proud that the OpenBSD team has managed to prepare for this major update so swiftly. All necessary components have been committed to our CVS tree, and the packages will soon be available. ↫ Rafael Sadowski Excellent news for OpenBSD users who don’t wish to be using GNOME, Xfce, or one of the smaller build-it-yourself desktop environments. My dual-Xeon workstation, which I switched over from Fedora KDE to OpenBSD, runs Xfce, because I feel a smaller desktop environment is a more natural fit for OpenBSD, but I’m very happy to know that I have KDE to fall back on in case Xfce turns out not to be a good fit for me in the long term. I’ll give the OpenBSD developers an other experts in that community some more time to iron out any wrinkles, and then I’ll probably give it a go to see just how well KDE will be integrated with the OpenBSD base system.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139742/kde-plasma-6-comes-to-openbsd/
Windows Server 2025 to ship with DTrace by default
date: 2024-05-20, from: OS News
Windows Server 2025 comes equipped with dtrace as a native tool. DTrace is a command-line utility that enables users to monitor and troubleshoot their system’s performance in real-time. DTrace allows users to dynamically instrument both the kernel and user-space code without any need to modify the code itself. This versatile tool supports a range of data collection and analysis techniques, such as aggregations, histograms, and tracing of user-level events. To learn more, see DTrace for command line help and DTrace on Windows for additional capabilities. ↫ What’s new in Windows Server 2025 DTrace was originally developed by Sun as part of Solaris, but eventually made its way to other operating systems as Sun collapsed in on itself and Oracle gave it the final push. DTrace is available for the various surviving Solars-based operating systems, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, macOS, and QNX, and Microsoft ported DTrace from FreeBSD to Windows back in 2018. With Windows Server 2025, DTrace will be shipped out of the box.
https://www.osnews.com/story/139740/windows-server-2025-to-ship-with-dtrace-by-default/
Really? A sarcasm detector? Wow. You shouldn’t have
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Computers learning to spot sass – what could go wrong?
Researchers from the University of Groningen’s Speech Technology Lab say they have created a multimodal algorithm that can detect sarcasm in speech.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/sarcasm_detector/
Arctic Cat Recalls Two UTV Models Due to Fire Hazard
date: 2024-05-20, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
A fuel leak around the filler neck on the Prowler Pro and Tracker poses a fire hazard.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/719975/textron-prowler-pro-tracker-recall/
Wikileaks’ Assange can appeal US extradition on freedom of speech grounds
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
London — The United States government’s attempts to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange from Britain on charges of espionage took another legal twist Monday, as a British court ruled he must be given the right to a full appeal against the order on freedom of speech grounds.
The hearing at London’s High Court on Monday was the last legal hope for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to halt his imminent extradition to the United States.
Two of the three judges ruled that a full appeal hearing must be held into whether the 52-year-old Australian citizen would be able to rely on the U.S. First Amendment right to free speech, in an American court.
“This is good news because it means that the Julian Assange case can now proceed to a hearing that will substantively consider the freedom of expression arguments,” said Simon Crowther, a legal adviser at Amnesty International.
Assange’s lawyers successfully argued that U.S. government assurances that he could “seek to rely” on those First Amendment rights were inadequate. A new appeal process could take months or years.
Barry Pollack, a member of Assange’s legal team, described the ruling as a significant milestone. “The High Court is going to hear the vitally important issues of whether someone should be extradited to the United States for having published truthful, newsworthy information.”
“The United States should never have brought this case. It is utterly inconsistent with First Amendment values and all that the United States says that it believes. And I hope the United States will take a hard look at this decision and maybe reconsider whether they want [to] pursue this fundamentally flawed case,” Pollack said at a news conference following the ruling Monday.
Assange was not in court Monday due to ill health. His wife, Stella Assange, said it was the correct ruling.
“As a family, we are relieved. But how long can this go on? The United States should read the situation and drop this case now. Now is the moment to do it. Just abandon this shameful attack on journalists, on the press and the public that has been going on for 14 years. This case is shameful, and it is taking an enormous toll on Julian. He is under enormous pressure. He has been in Belmarsh Prison for over five years,” she told hundreds of supporters outside the court.
U.S. prosecutors have filed 18 charges against Assange, relating to allegations of hacking and theft of classified material. They did not immediately comment on Monday’s court ruling.
In 2010, WikiLeaks published thousands of stolen diplomatic cables relating to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which Assange said exposed abuses by the United States military. The U.S. government argues his actions went beyond journalism by soliciting, stealing and indiscriminately publishing classified government documents that endangered innocent lives.
The case sets a vital precedent, said Amnesty’s Simon Crowther. “What Julian Assange is being prosecuted for is something journalists do all the time: they receive classified material that exposes war crimes or alleged war crimes, or crimes against humanity, serious human rights violations. And when it’s in the public interest, they publish those documents,” Crowther told VOA.
Assange has spent the past five years in London’s Belmarsh high security jail.
Prior to that, he sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for seven years after Swedish prosecutors charged him with two counts of rape, which he denied. The charges were later dropped. Assange was jailed for breaching his bail conditions. The U.S. Justice Department first formally requested his extradition in 2019.
In the coming months, Assange will have the right to bring a new appeal before the British courts, where he will argue that the U.S. judicial system would deny him his right to free speech.
HMRC must grow ‘intelligent client’ function to sort out post-Brexit tech issues – watchdog
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Already delayed, IBM and Deloitte’s ‘Single Trade Window’ presents SaaSy challenge’s to tax collector
The UK’s public spending watchdog is warning that the nation’s tax collector needs be become an “intelligent client” in its handling of tech service providers contracted to create a “single trade window” for post-Brexit border arrangements already beset with delays.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/hmrc_must_grow_intelligent_client/
The latest in the tense back-and-forth between the U.S. and China
date: 2024-05-20, from: Marketplace Morning Report
The Chinese government is putting sanctions on three U.S. defense companies. The move came as Taiwan swore in its new president, who called on China to stop trying to intimidate the country, and includes the latest economic restrictions between the U.S. and China as both countries move to protect domestic industries. Plus, health care providers continue to reel from a February cyberattack, and analysts worry about the adverse effects of Google’s AI-powered search results.
It’s your last chance to double your impact during our May fundraiser — the Investors Challenge Fund is matching donations up to $25,000 today! Give right now!
Jason Momoa’s Harley-Davidson ‘On The Roam’ Collection Just Got Bigger
date: 2024-05-20, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
More colorways, more cool gear.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/720128/jason-momoa-harley-davidson-on-the-roam-apparel/
Bajaj’s CNG Bike Is Coming Much Sooner Than Expected
date: 2024-05-20, from: Ride Apart, Electric Motorcycle News
The Bruzer 125 is set to take India’s roads by storm on June 18, 2024.
https://www.rideapart.com/news/719981/bajaj-cng-bruzer-125-coming-june-2024/
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
date: 2024-05-20, from: Associated Press, World News
A Russian court has started the trial of a theater director and a playwright facing charges of justifying terrorism over a play they staged, the latest step in the unrelenting crackdown on dissent in Russia that has reached unprecedented levels during Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Taiwan has a new president. What will it mean for the economy?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Marketplace Morning Report
From the BBC World Service: Taiwan’s new leader, William Lai, has called for China to stop threatening the island, with tensions between the two keenly watched from abroad. But the economy remains a major issue for Taiwan residents. We’ll hear more. Also on the program: Brazil counts the costs of major, devastating flooding activity. Then, people in the Italian city of Latina talk about the impact of inflation and immigration.
It’s your last chance to double your impact during our May fundraiser — the Investors Challenge Fund is matching donations up to $25,000 today! Give right now!
Slack tweaks its principles in response to user outrage at AI slurping
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Several people are typing. And something might be learning…
Salesforce division Slack has responded to criticism by users outraged that its privacy principles allowed the messaging service to slurp customer data for AI training unless specifically told not to, claiming the data never leaves the platform and isn’t used to train “third party” models.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/slack_ts_and_cs_update/
There’s a big problem with McLaren’s ‘World’s most powerful trail-legal’ electric mountain bike
date: 2024-05-20, from: Electrek Feed
McLaren, better known for its high-performance sports cars, has just announced a series of new electric bikes, including what the company calls the “World’s most powerful trail-legal” electric mountain bike.
British Library’s candid ransomware comms driven by ‘emotional intelligence’
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
It quickly realized ‘dry’ progress updates weren’t cutting it
CyberUK Emotional intelligence was at the heart of the British Library’s widely hailed response to its October ransomware attack, according to CEO Roly Keating.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/the_british_library_owes_lauded/
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-20, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Knicks 'gave everything they had,' come up short in Game 7.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40182515/injuries-too-much-overcome-knicks-game-7-loss-pacers
Biden’s Catch-22 in Ukraine
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: RAND blog
If Ukraine is to regain the momentum it has lost in its fight against Russia, it will need to go on the offensive—and that involves some degree of escalation risk.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/05/bidens-catch-22-in-ukraine.html
@Dave Winer’s linkblog (date: 2024-05-20, from: Dave Winer’s linkblog)
Yes Apple is a soul crushing tech monopoly. And some group inside Apple did something creative that inspired debate and for some revulsion, and in the name of uniformity in artistic expression, the creativity was crushed. And Steve Jobs would’ve loved it, btw, imho.
So you’ve built the best tablet, Apple. Show us why it matters
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Has Cupertino been trolling us all along?
Opinion Apple! What the hell were you smoking? How can a market leader worth $2.9 trillion make such a massive marketing mistake as the advert for the latest iPad?…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/opinion_column_apple_ad/
What do Americans really know about Trump and Biden?
date: 2024-05-20, from: Robert Reich on Substack
Why Biden’s good news isn’t getting through, and what Biden should do about it
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-do-americans-really-know-about
It’s MagPi Monday!
date: 2024-05-20, from: Raspberry Pi News (.com)
Every Monday we ask the question: have you made something with a Raspberry Pi over the weekend?
The post It’s MagPi Monday! appeared first on Raspberry Pi.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/its-magpi-monday/
Techie invented bits of the box he was fixing, still botched the job
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
This is why all-nighters are a bad idea
Who, me? Greetings and salutations, dear readers, and welcome to the sunny spot on the interwebs we like to call Who, Me? in which Reg readers share their tales of tech tasks gone awry.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/who_me/
Chinese telco gear may become verboten on German networks
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Industry reportedly pressuring digital ministry not to cut the cord
Germany may soon remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from its 5G networks, according to media reports.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/huawei_germany_ban/
Google Cloud shows it can break things for lots of customers – not just one at a time
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-21, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
Deleted about 40 networks that services needed, causing late Thursday fun
In the week after its astounding deletion of Australian pension fund UniSuper’s entire account, you might think Google Cloud would be on its very best behavior.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/google_cloud_network_outage/
May 19, 2024
date: 2024-05-20, from: Heather Cox Richardson blog
Delivering the commencement address to the graduating seniors at Morehouse College today, President Joe Biden addressed the nation. After thanking the mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, and all the people who helped the graduates get to the chairs in front of the stage, Biden recalled Morehouse’s history. The school was founded in 1867 by civil rights leader Reverend William Jefferson White with the help of two other Baptist ministers, the Reverend Richard C. Coulter and the Reverend Edmund Turney, to educate formerly enslaved men. They believed “education would be the great equalizer from slavery to freedom,” Biden said, and they created an institution that would make the term “Morehouse man” continue to stand as a symbol of excellence 157 years later.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-19-2024
11 hurt in mass shooting in Savannah, Georgia
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
SAVANNAH, Ga. — An argument between two women led to a gunfight that left 11 people hurt in a busy tourist area of Savannah, Georgia, late Saturday, one of five weekend shootings in the city, two of which were fatal, authorities said.
Two people were injured in separate shootings Friday. Two more shootings Saturday resulted in two deaths. Then came the gunfire just before midnight Saturday near Savannah’s Ellis Square.
The shooting broke out as two women argued in an area business, according to Police Chief Lenny Gunther, who didn’t name the establishment.
“One shot rang out. That triggered other individuals to shoot,” he said. “We had multiple individuals discharge their weapons to shoot at each other, which resulted in multiple people getting shot.”
Ten of the 11 injured were hit by gunfire. Authorities did not say what caused the 11th injury. Victims were treated at the scene and “several” were taken to a hospital, police said. None of the injuries appeared life threatening.
Mayor Van Johnson said a proliferation of guns was a factor in the shootings and that reasonable gun control laws are needed. He also stressed the need for gun owners to keep their weapons from being stolen and for people carrying guns to know how and when to use them.
“We have to insist on smart gun laws,” Johnson said at a Sunday news conference. “And then, on the other end, we have to insist that people act responsibly with those weapons.”
The mass shooting happened a week ahead of the tourist-heavy Memorial Day weekend. Gunther sought to assure people that police staffing will be sufficient to keep the public safe.
Ellis Square is in Savannah’s historic district, an area popular among tourists and locals. It was developed in 2010 and is known for a large fountain and a life-sized statue of songwriter Johnny Mercer.
The first two of Savannah’s weekend shootings happened Friday. Each of those resulted in a non-life-threatening injury and an arrest. On Saturday, police answering a call about a home invasion found a dead juvenile at the home. Initial reports are that shots were fired after a resident confronted an armed intruder.
Still another shooting was reported at a Savannah intersection Saturday night that left one man dead and a juvenile injured.
https://www.voanews.com/a/hurt-in-mass-shooting-in-savannah-georgia/7618930.html
Gender-inclusive restroom in Maple Hall a “huge step in the right direction” for CSUN students
date: 2024-05-20, from: The Sundail (CSUN student paper)
Maple Hall opened its doors on March 25 for classes previously held in Sierra Hall, with one of the features of the new building being a multi-stall, gender-inclusive restroom on…
Nissan infosec in the spotlight again after breach affecting more than 50K US employees
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
PLUS: Connected automakers put on notice; Cisco Talos develops macOS fuzzing technique; Last week’s critical vulns
Infosec in brief Nissan has admitted to another data loss – this time involving the theft of personal information belonging to more than 50,000 Nissan employees.…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/in_brief_security/
ShareOpenly is now on Tedium
date: 2024-05-20, from: Ben Werdmuller’s blog
I adore the way ShareOpenly has been added to Tedium:
You can see it for yourself on all its posts, including this great one about the decline of the ball mouse. Its founder, Ernie Smith, told me: “figured I had to have fun with it”.
https://werd.io/2024/shareopenly-is-now-on-tedium
Colorado clinic provides Ukrainian refugees with care in own language
date: 2024-05-20, from: VOA News USA
Almost half a million Ukrainian immigrants have moved to the U.S. since the start of Russia’s invasion, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Two of the biggest challenges they face are finding health care and a job. In one small Colorado city, a local clinic owner, herself a Ukrainian immigrant, is helping out as much as she can. Svitlana Prystinska has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.
China’s top rideshare boss vacates her role
date: 2024-05-20, updated: 2024-05-20, from: The Register (UK I.T. News)
PLUS: Grab’s fintech profits surges; TSMC exec gets ASML sticker shock; US and China talk about AI, and more.
ASIA IN BRIEF Jean Qing Liu, the president of China’s top rideshare biz DiDi (and daughter of Lenovo founder Liu Chuanzhi) on Sunday “informed the Company and its board of directors her wish to resign from her current position as a director and president, with a view to focusing on the company’s talent and organization, development of supporting functions and social responsibility work.”…
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/05/20/asia_tech_news_roundup/
pg_dumpbinary v2.17 released
date: 2024-05-20, from: PostgreSQL News
Grenoble, France - Mai 20, 2024
pg_dumpbinary
pg_dumpbinary dumps a PostgreSQL database to a binary
format. The resulting dump must be restored using
pg_restorebinary, which is provided.
This release adds two new options to command pg_restorebinary:
-
Add option
-C, –createto pg_restorebinary to create the database before restoring into it. Like with pg_restore you must provide a database to connect using the-doption. -
Add
–dump-createto print to stdout the create and alter database statements.
pg_dumpbinary is useful when:
-
You have bytea that can not be exported by
pg_dumpbecause the total size of the escape/hex output exceeds 1Gb. -
You have custom type that stores
\0internally in bytea but data are exported by pg_dump as char/varchar/text. In this case pg_dump truncates all data after the first\0, resulting in data loss. - Other cases where a binary output format is useful.
In these kinds of cases pg_dumpbinary helps by dumping the
PostgreSQL database in a binary format. In all other cases the
pg_dump/pg_restore commands distributed with PostgreSQL are preferred.
See the documentation for a more complete description of available features.
Links & Credits
pg_dumpbinary is an Open Source project from LzLabs GmbH. Contributions and ideas are welcome. Send your ideas, features requests, or patches using GitHub’s tools.
Links :
- Documentation: https://github.com/lzlabs/pg_dumpbinary/blob/master/README.md
- Download: https://github.com/lzlabs/pg_dumpbinary/releases/
- Support: use GitHub report tool at https://github.com/lzlabs/pg_dumpbinary/pg_dumpbinary/issues
https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/pg_dumpbinary-v217-released-2862/
Modos Paper Monitor Pre-Launch on Crowd Supply
date: 2024-05-20, from: Modos Blog
A fast, low-latency, open hardware e-ink monitor and dev kit
https://www.modos.tech/blog/modos-paper-monitor-pre-launch-on-crowd-supply