NPR News
The Pentagon has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit involving about 35,000 LGBTQ+ veterans that will help them get benefits like health care and disability.
NPR NewsA dolphin rescue center said most of the dead dolphins were from the endangered Azov species.
The Verge
Dana White and Mark Zuckerberg attend the UFC 300 event at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada | Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Meta is adding three new people to its board of directors, and one of them is UFC president and CEO Dana White, the company announced on Monday. Zuckerberg is a fan of MMA who has medaled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and tore his ACL in a sparring session a little over a year ago.
As shown above, the Meta CEO has attended several UFC fights over the last few years and shared a picture with White on Instagram in February, as noted by Bloomberg, and White was mediating the proposed Zuckerberg vs. Musk cage match at one point. White also has a personal relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, who Zuckerberg met with at his Mar-a-Lago resort after Trump threatened “if [Zuckerberg] does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison—as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election” in a book released last September.
In a Facebook post, Mark Zuckerberg said of White, “I’ve admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand.”
White maintained control of that brand after a New Year’s Eve incident two years ago where he was captured on camera slapping his wife in a nightclub, as reported by The Athletic. Afterward, White said, “There’s no defense for this and people should not be defending me over this thing no matter what... I have to walk around for however long I live — 10.4 years or another 25 years — and this is how I’m labeled now.”
John Elkann, CEO of European investment company Exor (which has stakes in companies like Ferrari and Stellantis), and Charlie Songhurst, a technology investor and former Microsoft executive, will be joining Meta’s board as well.
Meta now has 13 people on its board. “We have massive opportunities ahead in AI, wearables, and the future of social media, and our board will help us achieve our vision,” Zuckerberg says.
Mastodon FeedMissingThePt ("Missing The Point") wrote:
Breaking: House Chamber of U.S. Capitol sign "Number of Presidential Elections Since Last Attempt to Use Violence to Impede the Certification of Electoral Votes" is changed to "1."
Mastodon FeedGossiTheDog@cyberplace.social ("Kevin Beaumont") wrote:
Exactly one week between these two tweets.
The Verge
NBC
Between Nosferatu and Wolf Man, it feels like Hollywood has come back around on good, old fashioned monster movies. And it seems like Peacock wants in on the action with a feature-length reboot of the long-dead Grimm series.
Variety reports that Peacock is moving forward with a new film based on Grimm, Stephen Carpenter, Jim Kouf, and David Greenwalt’s 2011 series about a Portland cop who discovers that he’s one of the chosen few meant to defend humanity from monsters. Josh Berman (Drop Dead Diva) is attached to write the movie as well as co-executive produce with Kouf and Greenwalt.
In its original run, Grimm ran for six seasons that saw Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) become a formidable Grimm (the show’s lingo for monster hunters) alongside his human partner Hank Griffin (Russell Hornsby) and werewolf ally Munroe (Silas Weir Mitchell). Peacock has yet to announce details about the movie’s plot or whether any members of Grimm’s original cast members might return. But given that this isn’t the first time NBC has flirted with the idea of resurrecting the IP, it feels pretty safe to say this time around, Grimm’s definitely coming back to the small screen.
Kotaku
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hit theaters late last month and has already grossed more than $300 million worldwide, pushing the film series based on Sega’s popular video games past the one-billion mark and making it one of Paramount’s biggest ongoing franchises.
The Verge
Workers outside the hydrogen production facility at the Constellation Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Scriba, New York, on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023. | Photo: Getty Images
The Biden administration finalized rules meant to boost domestic production of hydrogen fuel through a new tax credit, a move that might also keep struggling nuclear power plants on line for longer.
The highly anticipated guidelines stipulate what kinds of hydrogen projects can qualify for the tax credit. Hydrogen combustion releases water vapor instead of greenhouse gas emissions, which is why the Biden administration sees it as a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. But it takes energy to produce hydrogen, and where that energy ought to come from has been contentious.
After a lot of political wrangling, the Biden administration ultimately loosened the rules to include hydrogen made with the help of some existing nuclear power plants. Specifically, nuclear reactors at risk of shuttering because of financial reasons might be able to benefit from the tax credit.
Where that energy ought to come from has been contentious
“The final rule is an important step in the right direction,” Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of the largest nuclear power plant operator in the US, Constellation, said in a press statement. “The final rule allows a significant portion of the existing merchant nuclear fleet to earn credits for hydrogen production.”
The tax credit, called 45V, was established through the Inflation Reduction Act and is worth up to $3 per kilogram of hydrogen production. To qualify, companies have to meet strict requirements to limit pollution.
That’s because whether hydrogen can be considered a clean fuel depends on how it’s made. Today, 95 percent of hydrogen produced in the US is made using gas in a process called steam-methane reforming. Methane is an even more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. And steam-methane reforming also produces carbon emissions.
The more climate-friendly alternative is to create hydrogen through electrolysis, splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen using electricity. The electricity would have to come from carbon pollution-free sources like solar and wind farms — or nuclear reactors, of course.
But all the recent hype over hydrogen has sparked concerns that the burgeoning industry might use up too much of America’s still-limited carbon-free electricity supply. The worry is that power grids might try to meet rising electricity demand using gas and coal-fired plants, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
To ease those concerns, the Biden administration proposed rules for the hydrogen tax credit more than a year ago that require companies to get electricity from new sources of clean energy. The hope was that, by doing so, the hydrogen industry might help add more renewable energy to the power grid rather than siphoning off limited resources.
It’s a lot harder to build new nuclear power plants than new solar and wind farms, however. The proposal subsequently faced backlash from the nuclear energy companies saying they wouldn’t be able to benefit from the hydrogen tax credit as a result.
After receiving more than 30,000 comments on the proposal, the Biden administration loosened its guidelines. The Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service released the final rules on Friday. They carve out scenarios in which an existing nuclear power plant at risk of retirement can benefit from the tax credit if it’s used to produce hydrogen and meets certain financial tests.
Constellation opposed any requirements that hydrogen production use electricity from newly built sources in order to qualify for the tax credit. The company is involved in plans to build a major hub for hydrogen production in Illinois, a project awarded funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The final rules also ease requirements for renewable energy and make it easier for developers to qualify for the tax credit in states that already have tough clean electricity standards. There are also new carveouts for hydrogen produced with methane that wafts out of landfills, farms, wastewater facilities, or coal mines that might otherwise escape into the atmosphere. In addition, companies can take advantage of the tax credit if hydrogen is made with electricity from a fossil fuel power plant that installs technology to capture its carbon dioxide emissions.
“The extensive revisions we’ve made in this final rule provide the certainty that hydrogen producers need to keep their projects moving forward and make the United States a global leader in truly green hydrogen,” John Podesta, senior adviser to the president for international climate policy, said in a press release.
Most of America’s nuclear power plants were built in the 1970s or ’80s, and the average age of a nuclear reactor in the US is 42 years old. Construction of the first all-new nuclear reactor in the US in decades finished in 2023 — seven years past its original deadline and $17 billion over budget. Next-generation nuclear reactors are smaller and modular, which is supposed to make them easier and more affordable to build. But those designs aren’t expected to become commercially viable until the 2030s.
The nuclear energy industry has also seen a boom of interest over the past year from tech companies in need of more carbon-free energy for AI data centers. Microsoft inked a deal with Constellation to help restart a retired reactor at Three Mile Island, while Google and Amazon announced plans to support the development of advanced small modular reactors.
NPR NewsThe post-war epic was nominated in several categories. Like Brody's real-life mother, Brody's character is an immigrant from Hungary who fled conflict.
The Verge
Image: Toyota
Toyota’s futuristic Woven City, which is being built on the site of a former car factory in Japan, is almost ready for its first residents.
At CES this week, the Japanese auto giant updated the public on the progress of the $10 billion project, which is said to be a “living laboratory” where people can live while also testing out futuristic projects. Toyota said it completed “phase 1” of the construction, with the official launch planned for 2025.
“Woven City is more than just a place to live, work, and play,” Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said during today’s press conference at CES. “Woven City is a place where people can invent and develop all kinds of new products and ideas. It’s a living laboratory where the residents are willing participants, giving inventors the opportunity to freely test their ideas in a secure, real-life setting.”
Toyota first announced Woven City at CES in 2021. At the time, the company said it would be a “prototype city of the future” where it can test autonomous vehicles, innovative street design, smart home technology, robotics, and new mobility products on a population of real people who would live there full time.
Now move-in day is quickly approaching. In fall 2025, Toyota said it will welcome the first 100 residents to Woven City, all of whom will be employees of Toyota or its subsidiary, Woven by Toyota. The community will gradually expand to include “external inventors and their families” who will be invited to relocate to the new city. In total, the first phase of the city will eventually house 360 residents, Toyota says.
Toyota dubs these first residents “Weavers,” adding that they are people who “share a passion for the ‘expansion of mobility’ and a commitment to building a more flourishing society. Through their participation in co-creation activities, Weavers will contribute to realizing the full potential of Woven City.”
That said, the first “inventors” confirmed for Woven City are mostly in the food services business, including a vending machine company and a startup that wants to explore “the potential value of coffee through futuristic cafe experiences.”
Toyoda mentioned several other ideas during his press conference, including high-powered motorized wheelchairs for people with disabilities who want to experience the thrill of racing. He also pitched the idea of a personal drone that follows joggers for added security, and “pet robots” for elderly people.
The Woven City site, which is located at the base of Mount Fuji, includes buildings that are designed by famed Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. The goal, through phase 2 and subsequent phases, is to build enough housing and facilities for up to 2,000 people to live year-around, with utilities powered by the company’s hydrogen fuel cell technology. The site is private for now, though Toyota says it plans on inviting the general public to see it in 2026.
“The potential value of coffee through futuristic cafe experiences”
The name “Woven City” is a reference to weaving together three different types of streets or pathways, each for a specific type of user. One street would be for faster vehicles only. The second would be a mix of lower-speed personal mobility vehicles, like bikes and scooters, as well as pedestrians. And the third would be a park-like promenade for pedestrians only.
It’s still unclear how Woven City fits into Toyota’s plans for the future of mobility. The company, which is one of the largest producers of automobiles in the world, has been a bit of a laggard in the field of electric vehicles. The company has plenty of hybrids but only one fully electric car in the US, the BZ4X — though it did say it has a three-row SUV coming soon.
There’s nothing new about automakers using big plots of land to build proving grounds with fake city backdrops to test out new vehicles. And company towns have existed for decades; Elon Musk, for example, is building his own town in Texas to house Tesla and SpaceX employees.
But what Toyota is proposing is a dramatic escalation of that concept: a real city with real people who would live within the automaker’s amped-up vision of the future. And that’s where it could run into some problems. Google confronted something similar with its Sidewalk Labs project in Toronto, after objections from residents about surveillance and data collection led to the project’s demise.
Toyota hopes to avoid these same headaches by touting an enhanced quality of life for Woven City’s residents. The project has already earned Japan’s first “LEED for Communities Platinum certification,” the system’s highest rank.
The Verge
The best screens for screen time. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
The bad news: flagship phones cost a small fortune these days. The good news: we can help you pick the right one and get the most for your money.
NPR NewsPresident Biden has issued an executive order blocking drilling for oil in more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean. It's the largest such move in history, but is almost guaranteed to be challenged under the incoming Trump administration.
Mastodon FeedLazyweb, why doesn't this regexp match in Perl 5.32.1, 5.34.3 or 5.18.2 but does in PHP and JS:
perl -le 'print 0 + ("ABCDE" =~ m/ABCF|BCDE|C(G)/);'
Changing nearly any character, including the C before the G, or removing the parens, makes it match.
https://jwz.org/b/ykfv
Kotaku
Marvel Rivals is entering its second season, confusingly named Season 1 because the first one was Season 0, and it’s bringing four new heroes to the game all at once. The Fantastic Four are joining the roster on January 10, seemingly alongside a new map, a balance patch, and a battle pass. Developer NetEase is rolling…
NPR NewsThe Biden administration's move leaves just 15 detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Oman will help resettle the men and provide security monitoring.
NPR NewsThe deal would secure release of a third of the approximately 100 hostages who remain in Gaza, including two dual U.S.-Israeli nationals. In return, Israel would release some Palestinian prisoners.
The Verge
Image: Getty
The US Department of Defense has added tech giant Tencent and lithium-ion battery maker CATL to its list of Chinese military companies, as reported earlier by Bloomberg. The designation doesn’t impose sanctions or a ban, but it could make it more difficult for the companies to do business in the US.
Along with owning the popular messaging app WeChat, Tencent is a major name in the gaming industry, as it owns League of Legends developer Riot Games and has invested in many others, including Epic Games, Larian Studios, Ubisoft, and FromSoftware. Meanwhile, CATL is the world’s biggest electric vehicle battery maker, with its products appearing across EVs from Tesla, Ford, Volkswagen, BMW, and more.
The designations originate from President-elect Donald Trump’s executive order in 2020, which prevented US companies from investing in entities with ties to the Chinese military. DJI, which was put on the list in 2022, says US Customs is blocking its drone imports and eventually filed a lawsuit claiming the designation has resulted in “lost business deals” and a stigma “as a national security threat.”
These companies don’t always stay on the Department of Defense’s list, as the US removed Chinese phone maker Xiaomi just months after adding it in 2021. Both Tencent and CATL plan to push back on the designations. “We are not a military company or supplier,” Tencent spokesperson Danny Marti said in a statement to The Verge. “Unlike sanctions or export controls, this listing has no impact on our business. We will nonetheless work with the Department of Defense to address any misunderstanding.” CATL similarly told Bloomberg that its inclusion was “clearly a mistake.”
The Verge reached out to CATL with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
The Verge
Is Samsung’s round robot finally ready to roll out of CES demos and into actual homes?
Ballie, the rolling robot that reemerged at CES last year, will be shipping to consumers as an actual product sometime in 2025. That’s what Samsung is saying at the moment, anyway. We were first introduced to Ballie at CES five years ago. Since then, the robot has undergone a more practical redesign, so maybe it’s really going to happen — but I’m still more skeptical than not.
Am I the only one who thinks those wheels look a bit flimsy? Maybe Samsung is intentionally building in a weak spot and planning ahead for whenever Ballie secretly amasses an army and turns against us.
Either way, Ballie is putting in yet another CES appearance here in Las Vegas. During Samsung’s First Look event last night, I watched the latest canned demo of the round bot. Its operator asked for information about a nearby attraction, The Sphere, which Ballie first projected onto the ground. But when more details and driving directions were requested, Ballie automatically turned around and beamed its image onto a nearby wall instead so that it would have more room to work with.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819908/DSCF4341.jpg)
You can interact with Ballie using your voice and also by stepping on buttons projected onto the floor.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819909/DSCF4344.jpg)
Ballie is smart enough to use the wall when you need a larger view.
From there, Ballie was asked to show a movie. It brought up Sony’s Uncharted, and when commanded to make the picture bigger, Ballie was smart enough to look for a wall that could accommodate the enlarged projection. The image wasn’t particularly bright; Ballie does better in that regard when beaming onto the floor immediately in front of itself. Don’t expect any ANSI lumen miracles from this rather small gadget. The built-in speakers were plenty loud, at least, and didn’t sound tinny.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819924/DSCF4348_Enhanced_NR.jpg)
Ballie looks to be an adequate, if average portable projector. But this one’s got wheels!
In another interaction, the person demoing Ballie held up a pair of wine bottles and asked the robot which would make a better pairing for his dinner, showing that Ballie has some visual AI powers at its disposal. Responses to most queries came within a couple of seconds without any hiccups. But again, I only saw a very controlled demo, and for all I know, it’s possible that this Ballie already had these answers programmed in. I trust absolutely nothing at this show.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819936/DSCF4356_Enhanced_NR.jpg)
Ballie did not advise its human of the Surgeon General’s recent warning about alcohol’s link to cancer. Pretty suspicious, if you ask me.
You communicate with Ballie through voice, and at times, the robot also projects virtual buttons onto the floor that can be stepped on to make a selection. (I’m curious as to what its accessibility features might entail.) Samsung has also given Ballie plenty of power over the smart home; you can tell it to control your lights and various routines.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819937/DSCF4357.jpg)
It’s not quite Samsung’s original vision, but Ballie still has some charm.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819938/DSCF4353.jpg)
And yes, it can control your smart home gadgets.
Samsung told outlets including CNET and TechCrunch, that Ballie is indeed rolling out this year. TechRadar got an even more specific “first half of 2025” timeframe. It’s possible Samsung could share more details during its CES keynote later today. As for price, your guess is as good as mine. What’s a fair amount to pay for a robot you’ll insist on showing everyone you know for a few weeks? That is, until you grow to resent Ballie for paling in comparison to the expectations set by BB-8 and WALL-E.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25820037/DSCF4358_Enhanced_NR.jpg)
I can’t wait to find out how much Ballie will cost.
Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge
Mastodon FeedReblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
RickiTarr@beige.party ("Ricki Crush Bandicute Tarr") wrote:
Cunk should host every political debate.
Mastodon FeedReblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
skinnylatte@hachyderm.io ("Adrianna Tan") wrote:
If you need a judge or panelist on anything civic tech / public interest tech and AI ethics related, let me know! I'm also happy to be on a podcast, or to sit down for a longer conversation regarding any of those topics.
I led the product management team for one of the US's largest municipal digital teams (SF) through Covid-19, built systems that helped residents and businesses, provided access to vaccines; made decisions on infrastructure and hiring.
Now I do the same at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
I'd like to share what I know, in whatever medium works best. I know many people are curious about product management work outside of the usual.
Email me: skinnylatte [at] gmail.com
My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriannatan/
A recent feature: https://govinsider.asia/intl-en/article/adrianna-tan-founder-future-ethics-united-states
Mastodon FeedReblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
carpingdiem@med-mastodon.com ("Carpingdiem") wrote:
The winter bird that got me interested in birding was the Northern cardinal. (Description in ALT.) #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #photography #nature #naturephotography #HoosierMast
Mastodon FeedReblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
grheavyroller ("gregg r") wrote:
Appropriate for January 6.
The Verge
Satechi’s Mac Mini M4 hub adds three front-facing USB-A ports. | Image: Satechi
First announced in late November, Satechi has confirmed that its Mac Mini M4 Stand & Hub will be available in limited quantities starting February 17th, 2025 through its online store for $99.99. A wider release will begin sometime in March, according to an announcement by the company at CES 2025 today.
The hub, made from aluminum with a soft-touch silicone coating, is designed to expand the functionality of the Apple Mac Mini M4 with two front-facing USB-A 3.2 ports, a USB-A 2.0 port, and an SD card reader.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819933/satechi2.jpg)
Image: Satechi
A cut-out on the back corner of the Satechi hub provides easier access to the Mac Mini M4’s power button.
The hub connects to the Mac Mini M4 using an integrated USB-C cable that can be stored on the underside when not in use. A recessed area on the top of the hub “maintains airflow without obstructing the Mac Mini’s fan,” while a notch in the back corner makes it easier to reach the computer’s underside power button.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819905/satechi3.jpg)
Image: Satechi
The hub can expand the Mac Mini M4’s storage using an NVMe SSD up to 4TB in size.
A removable panel on the bottom of the hub also allows the Mac Mini M4’s storage to be expanded by installing an NVMe SSD; the hub supports multiple widths and lengths of SSDs with capacities up to 4TB. For comparison, a 4TB NVMe SSD from Western Digital is $299.99. Upgrading the base version of the Mac Mini M4 from 256GB to 2TB of storage through Apple adds $800 to the price tag, while upgrading the 12-core version of the Mac Mini from 512GB to 4TB of storage is an extra $1,200.
Mother JonesFour years to the day that Donald Trump incited a violent attack on the US Capitol in an attempt to overthrow the 2020 election results, Congress certified his Electoral College victory as the 47th president of the United States. As required of her role presiding over the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris oversaw the ceremony, […]
Mastodon FeedGargron ("Eugen Rochko") wrote:
If you enjoy using Mastodon for Android, please consider leaving a positive rating or review on the Play Store, because a lot of people who do leave reviews are like this:
Kotaku
Marvel Rivals features three types of heroes: Vanguards, Duelists, and Strategists. Arguably, the Vanguard can change the tide of battle the most. Traditionally known as tanks, the role of these heroes is to soak up damage to let the rest of their team invade the objective and make their way in.
Mastodon Feed"Deep Dive"
What the absolute shit
https://jwz.org/b/ykfr
The Verge
Dreame’s newest robot vacuum can climb up a step. It’s a start! | Image: Dreame
First, they sprouted arms; now, robot vacuums are getting legs. The latest bot from Dreame has two small legs that can push it up and over a step as high as 6cm (about 2.5 inches).
The Dreame X50 Ultra robot vacuum uses a system called ProLeap, which the company first demoed at the IFA tech show in Berlin, Germany, last year. Dreame calls the device’s appendage a “motorized swing arm” that “enables step navigation up to 6 cm in height.” But they’re clearly legs.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25819382/Screenshot_2025_01_02_at_1.07.37_PM.png)
Image: Dreame
Don’t try and tell me those aren’t legs.
While this isn’t quite the stair climbing we’ve all been hoping for, it could be very useful for helping a robot vacuum reach more areas of your home without manual intervention.
Several current robot vacuums have a lifting capability that can help them get over high room transitions or bulky rugs; Roborock’s Qrevo Curv can handle 3cm, and Shark’s latest can go up to 2cm. Six centimeters is a big leap.
The Dreame X50 Ultra is the next generation of the company’s flagship X40 Ultra (which is our current pick for the best robot vacuum / mop hybrid). A robot vacuum with oscillating mopping pads, the X50 has advanced obstacle recognition and lidar navigation. It comes with a multifunction charging dock that can empty its bin and wash its mops with hot water and heated air. It can also automatically remove and reattach its mops. It will be available for $1,699.99 starting on February 14th. A presale featuring discounts starts on January 7th on Dreame’s website.
NPR NewsPublic service workers including some teachers, firefighters, police officers may soon see their Social Security payments increase by hundreds of dollars.
NPR NewsFour years after the riot at the Capitol, Congress meets under heavy security and a blanket of snow to certify the 2024 election.
