Marvel is bringing a mixed reality edition of What If…? to the Vision Pro
Who watches the watcher watching The Watcher watching them? | Image: Marvel / Disney
The Vision Pro is about to get what sounds like an honest-to-goodness mixed reality video experience from Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive, something the platform sorely needs. The companies announced What If...? – An Immersive Story, which they say is Disney Plus’ “first-ever” interactive original content. It’ll come exclusively to Apple’s VR headset and use a mixture of augmented and virtual reality.
The hour-long What If...? episode is based on Marvel’s Disney Plus show of the same name. It’s a promising development for starved Vision Pro owners, and not just because it’s far longer than the small library of immersive films Apple has offered to date.
Image: Marvel / Disney
Gimme that time stone.
Marvel says...
Mark Hamill Is Back As The Joker In MultiVersus
WB’s multi-franchise fighting game, MultiVersus,returns later this month and it’s adding Batman’s archnemesis, The Joker, to the game’s large roster of characters. And the iconic character is once again being voiced by Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill.
What’s Even The Point Of Xbox Game Pass Now?
On May 7, Microsoft closed down four first-party development studios it had acquired from Zenimax Media in 2021 including Tango Gameworks, developer of The Evil Within series and 2023’s surprise hit Hi-Fi Rush. It’s the latest round of layoffs and closures that the gaming industry, and Xbox specifically, has seen in…
collinsworth@hachyderm.io ("Josh Collinsworth") wrote:
People are never honest on LinkedIn, because if you were honest on LinkedIn, the very first thing you'd talk about is how much LinkedIn sucks.
You can get a $100 gift card when you preorder Google’s Pixel 8A
Say Aloe to my little friend. | Photo: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Apple and Sonos aren’t the only companies dominating the headlines with new devices this week. Google also officially announced the Pixel 8A following weeks of rumors, introducing the forthcoming handset a full week ahead of Google I/O 2024. The phone launches on May 14th, but you can preorder an unlocked model from Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store starting at $499 with a $100 gift card.
As expected, the upcoming Pixel 8A is aimed squarely at the midrange market. Google’s Pixel 7A ended up being our favorite Android phone for under $500 despite its $50 price bump, with much of its success riding on its 64MP main camera and a number of features typically reserved for more premium phones (ahem, wireless charging). The 8A only builds...
Peacock is turning The Office into a franchise with a new spinoff series
Newer shows like Abbott Elementary have proven that there’s still interest in mockumentary-style TV more than a decade after The Officecame to an end, and NBC has plans to capitalize on the moment with a new series set in the same — apologies — universe Dunder Mifflin exists in.
Greg Daniels was responsible for adapting The Office for NBC, and the network announced today that he and Michael Koman are creating a new, untitled spinoff series for Peacock that will focus on “a dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters.” In a statement about the news, head of NBCUniversal Entertainment Lisa Katz noted how The Office has continued to draw viewers to Peacock more than a decade since the...
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
yassie_j@labyrinth.zone ("Yasbeam Radiant Toaster :baba_baba_yaseen: :agenderFlag: :transgenderFlag: ") wrote:
Here are some common acronyms used by tech companies in 2024, and what they mean.
AI = Always Inaccurate
AGI = A Guy in India
LLM = Large Lying Model
GPT = Great at Producing Trash
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
It's rare to get a good commencement speaker. They're either embarrassingly bad or horribly boring.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/05/08/we-couldnt-get-anyone-interesting/
Attachments:
Google DeepMind’s new AI can model DNA, RNA, and ‘all life’s molecules’
Illustration: The Verge
Google DeepMind is introducing an improved version of its AI model that predicts not just the structure of proteins, but also the structure of “all life’s molecules.” The work from the new model, AlphaFold 3, will help researchers in medicine, agriculture, materials science, and drug development test potential discoveries.
Previous versions of AlphaFold only predicted the structures of proteins. AlphaFold 3 goes beyond that and can model DNA, RNA, and smaller molecules called ligands, expanding the model’s capability for scientific use.
DeepMind says the new model shows a 50 percent improvement in prediction accuracy compared to its previous models. “With AlphaFold 2, it was a big milestone moment in structural biology and has unlocked...
A Swiss Army Knife without the knife: Victorinox to offer bladeless products
Some governments have been cracking down on the knives people can carry in public as crime has increased. Victorinox said any bladeless offerings wouldn't replace its selection of Swiss Army Knives.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
Thoughts?
I don't like embedding social media posts in my website. And in the case of Twitter, I can't embed.
So, I made a generic "post" element for when I want to reference a tweet or thread.
What do y'all think?
Attachments:
Fortnite Removes Yoda Due To Game-Crashing Bug Involving Zoidberg Emote
There’s really no gentle way to ease you into this situation so I’ll just be blunt: Yoda got removed from Fortnite because an emote inspired by Zoidberg from Futurama was turning the little Jedi master into a nasty monster that crashed people’s games. What a world we live in?
'Black Twitter' docuseries celebrates the online community with real-world impact
When it comes to Black Twitter, filmmaker Prentice Penny says "no one is above being joked on." His Hulu docuseries charts the voices and movements that made it a force in politics and culture.
EA Considering In-Game Ads (Because It Went So Well Last Time)
Electronic Arts, the publisher of most sports games on the market, Battlefield, Mass Effect, and plenty of other huge franchises, is considering putting ads inside its video games as another source of revenue. This isn’t the first time the company has done this, but given how poorly it’s gone in the past, I’m…
Uber’s not out of the woods yet
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
In 2023, Uber achieved an important milestone, earning more money than it spent for a full year for the first time. It was widely seen as a sign that the perennially cash-strapped business was finally on a more sustainable path.
Today, there are signs that the journey may be longer than we thought.
The ridehailing and delivery company reported a surprise net loss of $654 million for the first quarter of the year, as legal settlements and equity investments proved to be more of a drag on Uber’s business than many expected.
The ridehailing and delivery company reported a surprise net loss of $654 million
Wall Street analysts had been expecting a profit of $474 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. In particular, the company’s...
I regret to inform you that LinkedIn’s games are very fun
Photo: LinkedIn
I almost didn’t get Pinpoint this morning. Here’s what it taught me about B2B sales.
I’m kidding! But I have to admit something: I’ve been going on LinkedIn every day recently, and I’m having a great time. Last week, the company announced it was adding three games to its app, both on desktop and mobile, as a naked engagement ploy to get you to open the app every day. I hate to say this, but it’s working.
The three games are called Pinpoint, Crossclimb, and Queens. Pinpoint is basically The New York Times’ Categories game but in reverse: the game gives you items, and you have to guess the category. Crossclimb is like the Times’ mini crossword, with a twist that you then have to rearrange the answers into a word ladder. And Queens, my...
Metal Gear Rex Giving You A Hard Time? Here’s How To Beat It
One of Metal Gear Solid’s ultimate bosses is the massive walking battle tank known as Metal Gear Rex. Rex is one of the tougher boss fights of the game, and little else is more frustrating than repeatedly dying to a late-game boss when you’re so, so close to wrapping up.
Intel expects revenue blow after US blocks chip sales to Huawei
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Intel expects new export restrictions to China to impact its revenue for the next quarter, according to a new financial filing.
The US Department of Commerce said Tuesday it had revoked certain licenses for chip exports to sanctioned Chinese company Huawei. Intel said in its filing that the Commerce Department informed it Tuesday of the license change, which it said impacted the export of “consumer-related items to a customer in China, effective immediately.” Intel did not list Huawei by name in the filing.
Intel said its revenue for the second quarter of 2024 will still fall within the original range it outlined of $12.5 billion to $13.5 billion but below the midpoint.
Huawei has been on a US trade blacklist since 2019, limiting its...
A timeline of events leading up to Israel's Rafah offensive
The Gaza Strip's Rafah border crossing with Egypt has been a key lifeline for people in the Palestinian enclave. Here is a timeline of events since Oct. 7, 2023, leading up to Israel's offensive.
How To Get Fate Fabric In Hades 2
Hades 2 tasks you an array of bite-sized crafting mechanics. As we mentioned in our tips guide, these tasks don’t demand as much busywork as you might think. That said, you’re bound to find certain materials, like Fate Fabric, to be frustratingly elusive if you don’t know where to look. We know where to look!
New Twitter Trend Highlights Incredible Indie Games And Their Inspirations
The first step to a video game becoming a success is finding the right audience. And while that’s easier for AAA games backed by big companies with equally big marketing budgets, indie games have a harder time getting the word out to the right players. This is why a new trend on X (formerly Twitter) is already being…
Decades-old law limits access to Wegovy for Medicaid beneficiaries
New medications like Wegovy are changing the way people lose weight and manage obesity, but many Medicaid beneficiaries can't get them.
Apple’s New iPad Ad Sparks Loud, Immediate Backlash
Sometimes, you get blatant reminders of how much disregard big tech has for, well, everything. Whether that’s exorbitant spending on acquisitions, layoffs of hundreds to thousands of people, and refusing to release or delist its employees’ hard work for a tax write-off. But now and then, you get all that callousness…
A lawmaker with a brain disease used voice assist to back her bill on the House floor
Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia was diagnosed last year with rare disease that makes it hard to speak. She still advocated for a bill renaming a post office in her district – and the House passed it.
For those bringing a dog into the U.S., new rules aim to keep out rabies
The CDC announced stricter regulations for importing dogs from abroad — or traveling internationally with your furry companions.
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
It's May. It is entirely appropriate that the mayflies are swarming.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/05/08/a-spider-banquet/
Attachments:
A new iPhone shortcut replicates Android’s best new feature
Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge
One of Android’s best new features, Circle to Search, is unfortunately not available to iPhone users. But Google is throwing Apple fans a bone with a solution that essentially replicates the function.
Google’s design manager for Google Lens, Minsang Choi, shared a new iOS shortcut in a post on X that’s designed to leverage the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro devices. When activated, the shortcut takes a screenshot of whatever you’re looking at and immediately funnels it into the Google app and runs a Lens scan. “It’s basically Circle to Search, but faster,” Choi exclaims.
GIF: Umar Shakir / The Verge
The Google app shortcut in action.
Over on 9to5Mac, author Abner Li discovered that the shortcut can also be...
TikTok ban: all the news on attempts to ban the video platform
Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo by Brendan Hoffman, Getty Images
Here’s a roundup of all the news about a new law requiring parent company ByteDance to sell off its platform.
The Best Tarot Arcana Cards To Unlock First In Hades 2
Hades 2 has an array of additions to discover, from incantations to new bosses to take down. Tarot Arcana cards are part of this wave of features, basically repurposing the Mirror of Night from the first game into an entirely new system.
Stack Overflow is feeding programmers’ answers to AI, whether they like it or not
Illustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos: Getty Images
Stack Overflow’s new deal giving OpenAI access to its API as a source of data has users who’ve posted their questions and answers about coding problems in conversations with other humans rankled. Users say that when they attempt to alter their posts in protest, the site is retaliating by reversing the alterations and suspending the users who carried them out.
A programmer named Ben posted a screenshot yesterday of the change history for a post seeking programming advice, which they’d updated to say that they had removed the question to protest the OpenAI deal. “The move steals the labour of everyone who contributed to Stack Overflow with no way to opt-out,” read the updated post.
The text was reverted less than an hour later. A...
The world’s largest carbon removal plant is here, and bigger ones are on the way
Climeworks’ Mammoth direct air capture plant in Hellisheiði, Iceland. | Image: Climeworks
Mammoth, the largest industrial facility yet built to filter carbon dioxide out of the air, just powered up in Hellisheiði, Iceland. It’s run by Swiss climate tech company Climeworks, whose clients include JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Stripe, and Shopify, among others.
It was the latest industrial plant built with the purpose of sucking carbon dioxide out of the air, a process called direct air capture (DAC) — with more facilities planned around the world. DAC is supposed to be a way to fight climate change by getting rid of greenhouse gas emissions that have built up in the atmosphere, but the process still has to prove that it can scale up enough to have a meaningful impact.
It’ll have to see if it can replicate that early success in a...
Dishonored Developer Shares The Personal Pain Of Microsoft's Studio Closures
Harvey Smith, the now-former studio director at Arkane Austin, has taken to X/Twitter to express his feelings about Microsoft’s sudden and shocking closure of the beloved developer, alongside three other Bethesda-adjacent studios, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Games. The team that brought us Dishonor…
A Rare Piece Of Nintendo History Is Currently On Auction For Over $3 Million
An original prototype of Nintendo’s Super Famicom, Japan’s (superior) version of the SNES, is currently up for auction and recent bids have already pushed the grey piece of gaming history north of $3.2 million. The “god-tier” nostalgia bait shows the market for retro collectibles can still be all over the place.
Georgia appeals court will review decision on Trump case DA, bringing another delay
The Georgia Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments after former President Trump appealed a decision allowing Fulton County DA Fani Willis to stay on the criminal case involving him and others.
Nintendo’s new NES collection is all about speedrunning
Image: Nintendo
Nintendo is embracing the world of speedrunning in its own way. The company announced a new collection of NES games for the Switch called Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, but the twist is the bundle is built entirely around playing really fast.
The collection features 13 different games — including Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, and a whole lot of Super Mario Bros. — but instead of playing through the entire thing, players are tasked with completing “bite-sized bits of classic blockbusters,” with the goal of getting the best possible time. Nintendo says there are more than 150 time-based challenges spread across the included games, and the collection will include a single-player mode and local multiplayer with support for up to...
Amazon Prime Video ads are about to get more intrusive
The new Prime Video ad formats will arrive sometime later this year. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
It’s barely been four months since Amazon placed ads in its Prime Video streaming service, but the retail giant is already introducing more annoying promotional tactics — such as displaying ads whenever someone hits the pause button.
On Tuesday, Amazon announced it will roll out three new ad formats for Prime Video later this year to tempt subscribers to purchase promoted items while watching content. Shoppable carousels will soon appear during ad breaks in shows and movies that present viewers with a “sliding lineup” of products they can buy on Amazon. That essentially makes this an ad within another ad, and it even “automatically pauses” if interacted with to give viewers time to browse.
TV shows, movies, and live sports will also...
Sonos’ redesigned app is going over like a lead balloon with many users
Everybody, hold on. We’ll get through this. | Image: Sonos
Last month, Sonos announced a complete overhaul of its mobile app for iOS and Android. It was supposed to meaningfully streamline the previous version, “bringing services, content, and system controls to one customizable homescreen.” Sonos wanted the app to feel more personalized and more modern and to make “tab to tab jumping a thing of the past.”
I didn’t get a chance to use the new app firsthand in April; Sonos only gave the press an overview and short demo that covered the basics. But even then, I had some sources warning me that a lot would be missing from the initial release.
A fresh look. Quicker access to your music. Easier control. The Sonos app has been completely redesigned to give you more power to personalize your...
The best instant cameras you can buy right now
Image: Kristen Radtke / The Verge
We found the best cameras for your budget and needs.
Reblogged by kornel ("Kornel"):
nicksherman@typo.social ("Nick Sherman") wrote:
Pro tip for anyone exporting SVG web images where the fonts are converted to outlines:
If the typefaces in your original design files are offered as both .otf and .ttf fonts, use the .otf fonts.All the major design apps use significantly more data points when outlining TTF curves, resulting in much larger file sizes (with or without compression).
In my tests on a large set of type specimen graphics, exporting identical designs with TTF fonts resulted in SVGs that were almost double the size.
Attachments:
President Joe Biden to announce AI data center at failed Foxconn site in Wisconsin
Photo by Matt Jewell
President Joe Biden is traveling to Racine, Wisconsin, today to announce a $3.3 billion investment by Microsoft, which will build an AI data center on the same site as the failed Foxconn project, according to a White House press release.
The Microsoft project, which the White House estimates will create an estimated 2,300 union construction jobs and up to 2,000 permanent jobs, is part of Biden’s Investing in America initiative. Microsoft will roll out the investments in a “four-part strategy designed to create long-term benefits for the state’s economy and job market,” the company said in a press release.
Microsoft will also develop an AI innovation lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a “Data Center Academy” at Gateway...
A Rare Piece Of Batman: Arkham History Is Back On Streaming
In 2011, Warner Bros. and WaterTower Music put together a compilation album for Rocksteady’s open-world superhero game Batman: Arkham City. The album featured some pretty big names like Panic! at the Disco, Blaqk Audio, and Serj Tankian, all contributing original songs meant to pay tribute to the caped crusader. Among…
Reblogged by kornel ("Kornel"):
bascule@mas.to ("Tony Arcieri 🌹🦀") wrote:
Renewable energy passes 30% of world’s electricity supply
Report says humans may be on brink of cutting fossil fuel generation, even as demand for electricity rises
Apple TV Plus is turning into the best place for streaming sci-fi
Dark Matter. | Image: Apple
Since it launched in 2019, Apple TV Plus has won awards and generated hits, but it still sits in an odd spot in the streaming landscape. It’s not as big as competitors like Netflix or Disney Plus, nor is it as prolific. Instead, the service seems intent on focusing on quality over quantity, which has led to some likening it to the HBO of old (you know, when it was still called HBO). In reality, Apple TV Plus has a somewhat scattershot library that includes everything from Charlie Brown to Martin Scorsese. Some of it is great; some of it is Argylle.
But there’s one place where the service is really nailing it: science fiction.
For whatever reason, the lineup of sci-fi shows on Apple TV Plus has steadily grown over the years, not just in...
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
djsundog@toot-lab.reclaim.technology ("DJ Sundog - from the toot-lab") wrote:
good morning fediverse. :cofepats:
there have been a ton of great bands built from a group of friendly session players over the years.
this one, Tokyo Groove Jyoshi, is absolutely incredible. Juna Serita on bass is astounding.
here's their cover of Tower of Power's "What Is Hip?"
and, well, this is.
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=tA8PKx09ao8&listen=false
:blobpats:
18 Hades 2 Character Portraits That Are Hot As Hell
Hades 2 is now available in Early Access on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store and let me tell you folks, it’s great to be back in Hell. The highly anticipated title is just as fun as the first game—maybe even more so—and it has an intriguing story that I can’t wait to unravel during its Early Access period. It’s…
FTX says most customers will get all their money back
Image: The Verge
FTX says most customers affected by the cryptocurrency exchange’s collapse will get all their money back. Bankruptcy lawyers for the fallen firm say they’ve collected assets valued at up to $16.3 billion — more than they will need to repay the company’s estimated $11 billion debt.
John Ray III, the chief restructuring officer of FTX, says the company is “pleased to be in a position to propose a chapter 11 plan that contemplates the return of 100% of bankruptcy claim amounts.”
Once the court approves the plan, FTX will begin distributing the funds within 60 days. Customers will receive the amount their assets were worth at the time of FTX’s collapse. FTX’s lawyers said earlier this year that they expect customers to “eventually be paid...
The dos and don'ts of lending money
What do you do if a loved one asks to borrow a big sum of money from you? Experts weigh in on when it's OK to fork over the cash — and when you should probably say no.
Crow Country: The Kotaku Review
Playing retro-inspired games is like returning to a beloved theme park as an adult. Instinctively knowing where to go first, remembering what it was like to be there as a child —it plays to a very specific kind of nostalgia. Retro-inspired games often include familiar mechanics, recognizable art styles, and tropes of…
Tesla is being investigated for securities and wire fraud for self-driving claims
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Photo by STR / NurPhoto, Getty Images
The Department of Justice is looking into whether Tesla committed securities and wire fraud around its self-driving vehicle claims, Reuters reports today, citing three sources familiar with the matter.
The investigation, which was first reported in October 2022 but has been going on since at least late 2021, involves federal prosecutors in Washington and San Francisco who are examining whether Tesla executives misled consumers, investors, and regulators by making unsupported claims about its autonomous capabilities. Now, it appears that investigators are zeroing in on specific charges against the company: securities and wire fraud.
According to Reuters, the probe is looking into statements made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in particular. For...
Taliban affirms that stoning will be punishment for adulterers — especially women
In a recording, the group's leader declared: ""We will flog the women ... we will stone them to death in public [for crimes]." What does Islamic law say on the matter? And have stonings taken place?
Goodbye to Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio, the best iPad Pro accessory
Farewell to a real one. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
It’s versatile, doesn’t weigh much, and no one else makes anything quite like it for the iPad Pro. Hopefully it’s not gone for good.
Matter is now racing ahead, but the platforms are holding it back
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
The latest Matter spec brings a number of improvements to the smart home standard founded by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung. Released this week by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, Matter 1.3 brings support for more appliances, including ovens and cooktops, adds energy and water management, and introduces new features for Matter’s universal casting protocol that could be a competitor to AirPlay and Google Cast.
This is all great progress, but as none of the major platforms have added support for Matter 1.2 yet, who knows when they’ll get around to supporting 1.3? But I digress. First, let’s dig into what’s new.
The 1.3 update adds microwave ovens, ovens, electric cooktops, extractor hoods, and electric dryers, which join washing...
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
I had a tiny bit of joy the other day when I had the opportunity to introduce the kiddo to "The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE
Just trying to raise the kid right.
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
I actually don't have to hand it to 'em, and also what is the "it" in "gotta hand it to 'em"? Is it context dependent? Like if you're angry, it's a bag of flaming crap, and if you're happy, it's like a trophy?
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
Gotta hand it to a company that can manage to make aspects of a product that are probably just cost reductions and turn them into desirable bullet point features.
Microsoft is ‘turning everyone into a prompt engineer’ with new Copilot AI features
The Verge
Microsoft is attempting to solve the problem of coming up with a good prompt for generative AI, aiming to turn everyone into a prompt engineer. In the coming months Copilot for Microsoft 365, the paid service that adds an AI assistant to Office apps, will be updated with a new auto-complete feature that offers suggestions to improve AI prompts.
If you start creating a prompt then Copilot will soon offer to complete it with extra details to improve the end result of whatever you’re generating or the questions you’re asking. So if you start typing “summarize” then Copilot will display options to summarize the last 10 unread emails in your inbox, or other tasks that are related to your Office data.
Image: Microsoft
T...
TikTok sues federal government over free speech; U.S. pauses an Israel bomb shipment
TikTok is challenging a new law that would ban the app if it doesn't find a buyer, citing free speech supression. The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel over fears they could be used in Rafah.
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
That's a first. A politician admits that worms are eating his brain.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/05/08/politicians-making-icky-confessions/
Attachments:
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
Did you know that some loons think Grendel, from Beowulf, was a T. rex? Yeah. Really.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/05/08/grendel-was-a-t-rex/
UK details requirements to protect children from ‘toxic algorithms’
Illustration by Hugo Herrera for The Verge
The UK is calling on search and social media companies to “tame toxic algorithms” that recommend harmful content to children, or risk billions in fines. On Wednesday, the UK’s media regulator Ofcom outlined over 40 proposed requirements for tech giants under its Online Safety Act rules, including robust age-checks and content moderation that aims to better protect minors online in compliance with upcoming digital safety laws.
“Our proposed codes firmly place the responsibility for keeping children safer on tech firms,” said Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes. “They will need to tame aggressive algorithms that push harmful content to children in their personalized feeds and introduce age-checks so children get an experience that’s right...
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
"It is worth recalling that the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010 without a single Republican vote."
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Opinion: "In the arms race for eyeballs, showing skin has been colonized by a desire for clicks, the only real currency in an attention economy. Nudity has finally been denuded of sex.
Some might see all this as progress or a sign of body positivity. But a notable aspect of the new sartorial nothingness is that no one seems to be enjoying it very much."
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
Creationism has stopped being funny, because it is so patently bogus already.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/05/08/its-gone-past-funny-to-depressing/
Attachments:
What You Should Know About Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s New “Build Green” Bill
This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Although the nation has seen record federal investment in infrastructure under President Joe Biden, the majority of the funds are flowing to roads and bridges—not to projects that will clean up the transportation system, those tracking the spending have […]
Venus and Earth used to look like 'twin' planets. What happened?
Earth, Mars and Venus all looked pretty similar when they first formed. Today, Mars is dry, cold, and dusty; Venus has a hot, crushing atmosphere. Why did these sibling planets turn out so different?
“Antisemitism” vs. “Anti-Semitism”: The Style Debate Is Settled, But the Hate and Harm Are Rising
“Is it antisemitism or anti-Semitism?” a Mother Jones reporter asked me last week, a question freshly in focus as campus protests grow. It’s been six months since the FBI announced that antisemitism (by any style) is at historic levels, and three years since the Associated Press, the New York Times, and several other news organizations […]
“Antisemitism” vs. “Anti-Semitism”: The Style Debate Is Settled, But the Hate and Harm Are Rising
“Is it antisemitism or anti-Semitism?” a Mother Jones reporter asked me last week, a question freshly in focus as campus protests grow. It’s been six months since the FBI announced that antisemitism (by any style) is at historic levels, and three years since the Associated Press, the New York Times, and several other news organizations […]
Scientists Rejoice! Studying Cannabis Is About to Get a Lot Easier
After more than 50 years as a Schedule I substance, marijuana is slated to get reclassified. In a historic shift, the Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly plans to modify the drug’s designation under the Controlled Substances Act from a category that includes drugs like heroin and meth to the less dangerous but still illegal Schedule III, […]
Daimler’s driverless semi trucks will hit the road in 2027
Image: Daimler Trucks
Daimler Truck, a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz parent company, revealed its first autonomous truck demonstrator that it said will pave the way to fully driverless freight hauling by 2027.
The demonstrator is an all-electric version of Daimler’s popular Freightliner Cascadia models. The so-called eCascadia has been fitted with a suite of high-powered, long-range sensors that enable it to “see” its surrounding environment as well as a high-powered computer that can process the sensor data and make navigation decisions.
Daimler, which is working with Waymo and its own Torc subsidiary on autonomous systems, says the goal is to launch the trucks somewhere in the Southwest US, transporting goods from hub to hub as part of a middle-mile...
Brilliant’s $400 smart switches are still working... for now
Brilliant Smart Home Systems, makers of the Brilliant smart switch, is looking for a buyer. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Brilliant, maker of smart home controllers and smart light switches, is out of money. CEO Aaron Emigh confirmed in an exclusive interview with The Verge that the company has laid off the majority of its staff, shut down its support center, and is no longer selling its products. However, the company is maintaining its servers, and existing devices are continuing to operate in customers' homes.
But for exactly how long is a question Emigh couldn’t answer. “Indefinitely, I hope, but ultimately, it’s not in my hands,” he said, explaining that the company has entered an asset sale phase and is looking for a buyer following the failure of its Series C round to raise capital or find an acquisition company. “[The company] will be sold. We have...
Latino voter turnout is growing in Arizona. Senate hopefuls are trying to win support
Nearly 1 in 4 Arizona voters in the upcoming elections is expected to be Latino, according to recent projections by NALEO. But many say they are often overlooked by political campaigns.
The Eurovision Song Contest kicked off with pop and protests
Performers representing countries across Europe and beyond took the stage in the first of two Eurovision semifinals in the Swedish city of Malmo, against a backdrop of both parties and protests.
Students and civil rights groups blast police response to campus protests
Students say they suffered broken bones, concussions and other injuries from allegedly aggressive police action breaking up pro-Palestinian protests last week.
The FDA misses its own deadline to propose a ban on formaldehyde from hair products
It is unclear why the suggested rule was not released by its intended deadline. But a spokesperson for the federal agency told NPR that its implementation "continues to be a high priority."
Bipartisan congressional spouses tackle cancer prevention, and leave politics out
Lawmakers' spouses from both parties have worked to promote cancer awareness and prevention for more than 30 years. They stress the disease impacts families regardless of party and needs a spotlight.
Migrant arrivals stretched Denver's budget. Now, the city is scaling back aid
In the last two years, Denver has seen more than 40,000 migrants arrive, many on buses chartered by Texas' governor.
Migrants claiming asylum can be allowed into the U.S. Here's how it works
Asylum rules in the U.S. paired with millions of cases backing up immigration courts are causing a major headache for the country.
The U.S. military pier off Gaza may soon be operating. Aid workers question its role
With aid groups warning of famine and the war between Israel and Hamas entering its seventh month, the assistance is needed, but there are key questions about its effectiveness and security.
Trump's speeches follow a familiar playlist, featuring greatest hits among new tunes
Donald Trump's campaign speeches are like his signature rally playlists — never the same topics in the same order, heavy on the greatest hits but with room to riff on what's popular.
rmrenner ("The Old Gay Gristle Fest") wrote:
Saw a video titled "Why are open source alternatives so bad?"
When they're good, they're not described as alternatives. They're just the thing.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah, official says
The shipment was supposed to be 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, according to an official, with the U.S. concern being how the explosives could be used in a dense urban setting.
In 'Chicano Frankenstein,' the undead are the new underpaid labor force
Daniel Olivas's novel puts a new spin on the age-old Frankstein story. In this retelling, 12 million "reanimated" people provide a cheap workforce for the United States...and face a very familiar type of bigotry.
Panera says it will stop serving 'Charged Sips' drinks at center of lawsuits
Panera Bread said it's discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks that were tied to at least two wrongful death lawsuits due to their high caffeine content.
Activists flood Utah tip line with hoax reports to block bathroom law enforcement
Activists have flooded the tip line with thousands of hoax reports in an effort to shield trans residents and their allies from any legitimate complaints that could lead to an investigation.
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
rbreich@masto.ai ("Robert Reich") wrote:
Judge Cannon has postponed Trump's classified documents trial and didn't set a new start date.
The Supreme Court is slow walking Trump's classified documents case, which has delayed his Jan 6 trial.
The federal judiciary is effectively acting like a MAGA campaign arm.
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
paul@oldfriends.live ("Paul Chambers") wrote:
2/ I'm sure others can add or even help me with anything I got wrong, or how I can improve this, but here is what I did today out of urgency to scale my Mastodon Sidekiq processes and jobs after getting backlogged twice this week.
#MastoAdmin
cc @trendless @shaniehttps://gist.github.com/p37307/fcd57ba2bea46c2b3e6095ed21e800d1
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Yoshi@toot.community ("Yoshimatsu ✅🇺🇸 🇺🇦") wrote:
Attachments:
- Political ad for Ruben Gallego for US Senator to replace $$$inema. Caricature of gallego in camo holding m-16 to symbolize usmc combat veteran. In other hand holds Arizona state outline. American flag on right shoulder. Caption "I got your back" in English and Spanish (te apoyo.) CC License BY, NC, ND (remote)
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Yoshi@toot.community ("Yoshimatsu ✅🇺🇸 🇺🇦") wrote:
Do you know any of these guys? This was on the balcony of the old French control tower at #Danang, #Vietnam, ca 1969. I'm the good looking guy holding the camera. The #VA is adamant I get tested for #AgentOrange exposure. I don't need no steenkin' tests, I know I was exposed. I'd like to know if any of the guys in the pic have had cancer or other AO related effects. I keep telling the #VA, at my age, I'm gonna die sooner than later but now, I'm curious. Thanks.
Attachments:
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
w7voa@journa.host ("Steve Herman") wrote:
A federal jury in Florida has convicted a former US Army soldier for the murder of a pregnant, 19-year-old fellow soldier on an Army base in Germany more than 22 years ago. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-convicted-cold-case-murder-military-base-germany
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
there are few things more shattering to basic trust than being betrayed by a fellow soldier. it took over two decades to convict this person, and I hope they are put away for at least that long.
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Teri_Kanefield ("Teri Kanefield") wrote:
I just joined a group of lawyers doing voter protection work for the election.
Getting angry while watching TV doesn't do anything to help.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
talk about amusing stealth mktg…
https://gizmodo.com/powerful-new-gpt2-chatbot-mysteriously-returns-1851460717
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/imagoodgpt2chat-mystery-xYxag03iS3Kw5GPjnAxTNw
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
spocko@mastodon.online ("Spocko") wrote:
This is #WitnessIntimidation and it needs to be stopped.
Attachments:
- Transcript from 5-7-2024 THE COURT: I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is cursing audibly, and he is shaking his head visually and that's contemptuous. It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that. MR. BLANCHE: I will talk to him. THE COURT: So, I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don't want to embarrass him. MR. BLANCHE: I will talk to him. THE COURT: You need to speak to him. I won't tolerate that. MR. BLANCHE: I will talk to him. THE COURT: One time I noticed when Ms. Daniels was testifying about rolling up the magazine, and presumably smacking your client, and after that point he shook his head and he looked down. (remote)
- Trump exploding in court sketch style by @thegreatgig8 The Great Gig in the Sky using AI prompts. (remote)
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
jeffowski@mastodon.world ("Church of Jeff") wrote:
Attachments:
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
I want us to think longer term & focus on great product
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Chrishallbeck ("Chris Hallbeck") wrote:
Paint the shed.
These comics are made possible by the generous support of my subscribers at Patreon! https://patreon.com/chrishallbeck
Attachments:
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
QasimRashid ("Qasim Rashid, Esq.") wrote:
There are 600,000 children in Rafah. They have nowhere else to go. If you support an invasion of Rafah, you're saying the lives and well-being of those children don't matter.
If you saw those children as your own, opposing the invasion wouldn't be a question. If you don't see them as your own, it's because they've been dehumanized to you. Otherwise no person with a conscience would look at an innocent child, let alone 600,000 innocent children, and agree they deserve to be bombed and killed.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
#Meta employees speak out against bias, censoring, and reckless policy at their workplace.
Metamates For Ceasefire https://www.metamates4ceasefire.com:
> Most recently, questions about investigative reports indicating the possibility of governments, ISPs, and coordinated bad actors using Whatsapp data for military targeting have been met with dismissive and insufficient responses or outright deleted throughout internal forums.
Any #Fediverse leaders want to break their DNAs and stand up against Meta, or?