Leftovers

• Science

  • New York Times ☛ Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 Successfully Lands on the Moon

    Firefly Aerospace’s robotic vehicle became the second privately built spacecraft to make a soft landing on the moon. It could soon be joined by two more private lunar landers.

  • New York Times ☛ Vesuvius Erupted, but When Exactly?

    Two thousand years on, scholars still don’t agree on the day the destruction of Pompeii began. Two new studies only fan the fire.

  • Science Alert ☛ Blue Ghost Makes History With Perfect Moon Landing: Amazing Photos

    "We're on the Moon!"

  • Science Alert ☛ 4,000-Year-Old Stonehenge-Like Circle Discovered in Denmark

    "It is a once in a lifetime find."

  • Science Alert ☛ This Ancient Culture Drove Nails Into Skulls. We May Finally Know Why.

    A stab in the dark.

  • Science Alert ☛ Physicists Create Lab-Grown Diamond Even Harder Than Natural

    A new approach to diamond formation.

• Career/Education

  • New York Times ☛ Problems With New California Bar Exam Spark Lawsuit and Enrage Test Takers

    Many aspiring lawyers could not access the test and cited delays or other issues. A lawmaker has called for an investigation.

• Hardware

  • Doug Brown ☛ The gooey rubber that’s slowly ruining old hard drives

    As part of my work toward an upcoming post about a lost piece of very obscure Mac history that has finally been found, I’ve been playing around with old Apple-branded SCSI hard drives made by Quantum and Conner in the 1990s.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ 'Fire the defective chip maker Intel board and rehire Pat Gelsinger,' argues former defective chip maker Intel CEO Craig Barrett [Ed: Craig Barrett the crook who attacked a charity]

    Craig Barrett suggests that dividing up defective chip maker Intel is the wrong move to take right now, especially as it just had a breakthrough in chip technology.

  • Hackaday ☛ “Some Assembly Required” Makes Us Love Things More

    For the maker looking to turn their project into a business, trying to price your widget can be a bit of a conundrum. You want to share your widget with the world without going broke in the process. What if you could achieve both, letting the end user finish assembly? [PDF]

  • Hackaday ☛ Make Ice Spheres In A Copper Press

    Perfectly clear ice spheres are nifty but can be a bit tricky to make without an apparatus. [Seth Robinson] crafted a copper ice press to make his own.

  • Hackaday ☛ On Sensory Weaver Building

    What is a sensory weaver? [Curiosiate] tells us: “A device which takes sensory data feeds in and converts it in various ways on the body as information streams as though a native sensory input.” As an example, they’ve built one.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • New York Times ☛ Federal Officials Underplaying Measles Vaccination, Experts Say [Ed: This is for sure worsened by what happened in 2021. Forcing people to take untested COVID-19 "stuff" ruined people's confidence in government recommendations.]

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has described the outbreak in West Texas last week as a “top priority.” But he has not explicitly encouraged Americans to get vaccinated.

  • NYPost ☛ Measles alert issued in New Jersey county following three confirmed cases

    An unvaccinated resident in Bergen County contracted measles after returning from a trip overseas. The person spread it to two others, who are also unvaccinated, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

  • Science Alert ☛ Just 3 Days of a 'Juice Fast' Could Be Doing You More Harm Than Good

    You're throwing out the best part.

  • Science Alert ☛ Human Skin Can Taste Things, And Scientists Just Figured Out Why

    Blegh!

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan’s consumers hunt for bargains as food inflation bites

    The higher cost of food is forcing people in Japan to scrimp and bargain hunt.

• Proprietary

  • Hackaday ☛ Skype Is Shutting Down On May 5th

    In a move that could have been seen coming from at least a decade away, Microsoft has confirmed that the Skype service will be shutting down on May 5. This comes after an intrepid person stumbled over a curious string in the latest Skype for Windows preview. This string seemed intended to notify the user about the impending shutdown, telling them to migrate to Teams instead.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    • The Straits Times ☛ China’s ambassador criticises Australia’s move to limit DeepSeek

      His comments came as a Chinese naval task force continued to skirt Australia’s territorial waters.

• Security

  • Confidentiality

    • Lisandro Damián Nicanor Pérez Meyer: PGP/GPG transition from 0x6286A7D0 to 0xB48C1072

• Defence/Aggression

  • JURIST ☛ Human rights advocates urge Türkiye to stop abuse of terrorism charges following end of PKK insurgency

    Human rights Watch (HRW) on Friday urged for imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalanlan’s call for an end to the organization’s decades-long insurgency against Türkiye to be used as a catalyst to end the systematic misuse of terrorism charges against government critics.  Öcalan founded the PKK in 1978.

  • OPINION: Despots face a security rethink in the age of drones

    Despots are realizing that traditional police state tactics are not enough to secure regimes in the drone era.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Singaporean man embroiled in police probe after brawl outside Ichiran ramen shop in Taipei

    The Singaporean man, 31, had attempted to assist the ramen outlet's security guard in a dispute.

  • New York Times ☛ Syrian Forces Deployed in Druse Town After Deadly Gunfight

    An uneasy calm prevailed in the town on the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday, two days after a gunfight between local men and security forces.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US aircraft carrier enters South Korean port as show of force

    It marks the first time a US aircraft carrier has called at the country since June.

  • New York Times ☛ As MElon Consolidates Power, His Mother, Maye, Is in Demand

    Maye MElon, a model and a public speaker, recently headlined a government conference in Dubai and endorsed a slew of products in China.

  • Silicon Angle ☛ MElon’s DOGE shuts down the GSA’s technology unit

    MElon’s Department of Government Efficiency has been at it again, instructing the General Services Administration to eliminate its technology consulting unit, known as 18F. News of the decision first emerged on Saturday, but it remains unclear how many workers have been affected.

  • New York Times ☛ How MElon Uses Internet Slang to Marshal His Army of Online Fans

    Mr. MElon uses online slang to marshal his 200 million social control media followers in support of his efforts to gut the federal government. But he might be reaching his limits.

  • New York Times ☛ Mexico’s Response to Convicted Felon’s Tariffs: Troops, Cartels and China

    Aiming to appease Hell Toupée, Mexico is hitting China with tariffs, handing cartel leaders over to the United States and using C.I.A. intelligence to hunt down others.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • France24 ☛ Crowds rally across Europe to show support for Ukraine

      Demonstrators took to the street across European cities Saturday after the public row between US President The Insurrectionist and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In Berlin, thousands marched alongside Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to demand an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

    • New York Times ☛ Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Stop Offensive Cyberoperations Against Russia

      The defense secretary’s instructions, which were given before Hell Toupée’s blowup with the Ukrainian president, are apparently part of an effort to draw Russia into talks on the war.

    • European Commission ☛ Doorstep by President von der Leyen at the leaders' meeting on Ukraine in London

      European Commission Statement London, 02 Mar 2025 We had a very good and frank discussion.

      We have discussed everything that is around peace through strength.

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian PM Siliņa urges transatlantic cooperation

      It is in Europe's interest to promote the improvement of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the United States and transatlantic cooperation, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) told journalists on Sunday after an online conversation between the leaders of the Baltic states and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

    • The Strategist ☛ The US is gone—Europe must replace it

      The Insurrectionist and JD Vance’s verbal assault on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office will mark 28 February 2025 as an infamous moment in US and world history.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ Zelenskyy and Europe confront the first contours of the Convicted Felon World Order

      The Ukrainian president’s tempestuous recent meeting at the White House was a window into a larger transformation of global order by the US president.

    • France24 ☛ Zelensky says Ukraine ready to sign minerals deal with United States

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he is still ready to sign a minerals deal with the United States. He made the comments to British media in London, explaining that he believed he could salvage his relationship with US President The Insurrectionist after their explosive meeting in the Oval Office.

    • France24 ☛ Former Latvia PM speaks to France 24

      Krišjānis Kariņš, whose country was not directly invited in the talks organised in London around the security of Ukraine and Europe, spoke with Gavin Lee about the importance of this day.

    • France24 ☛ US Republicans take to airwaves to suggest Zelensky may have to step down

      On the Sunday talk shows, many Republican officials, such as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and US House Speaker Mike Johnson, suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might have to step down to "end" the Ukraine war. The comments came days after Zelensky received a dressing down during a White House meeting with The Insurrectionist.

    • France24 ☛ Europe to launch new 'coalition of the willing' to help Ukraine, says Starmer

      British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday Europe was at a crossroads in history and must do the heavy lifting to defend itself as world leaders met in London to discuss ways of working together to stop Russia's war in Ukraine.

    • France24 ☛ UK defence summit: ‘Can Europe still count on the US’?

      As a key summit on the conflict in Ukraine, which is attended by more than a dozen European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky began in London on Sunday, two big questions are being asked: Can the relationship between the US and Ukraine be salvaged and can Europe still count on the US?

    • France24 ☛ UK defence summit: Greater 'sense of urgency' than Munich talks, analyst says

      There is a greater sense of urgency at Sunday's defence summit held in London than the Munich Security Conference last month after the blowout between the US and Ukraine Friday, said Olena Prokopenko, Senior follow at the German Marshall Fund. “We saw that the US might be finalising its shift towards Russia unfortunately in terms of the peace talks and the position that it’s taking”, Prokopenko said, adding that Europe has an important role to play in "mediating between Ukraine and the US".

    • France24 ☛ UK defence summit: Ukrainians hope for security guarantees from Europe

      Ukrainians are hoping for security guarantees from its European allies as crisis talks take place in London on Sunday. “What Ukrainians are hoping for is at least more help from the allies it knows it can count on”, FRANCE 24’s Emmanuelle Chaze said, reporting from Kyiv.

    • France24 ☛ US-Ukraine fallout: Stakes ‘highest since 1945’, specialist says

      Following the blowout between Washington and Kyiv, the stakes are “maybe the highest that we’ve seen since 1945”, said Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies & International Politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. "For the first time in 84 years, since 1941, the US government has not aligned with Europe", Lucas said, adding that “Europe has not choice here: Europe either stands together, or it stands apart” to face threats from Russia or even the US.

    • France24 ☛ ‘Action not words’: PM Starmer calls for ‘lasting’ peace deal for Ukraine

      Britain and France are working with Ukraine on plans to end the fighting with Russia, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday, as European leaders gathered for crisis talks after a blowout between Kyiv and Washington. Citing Starmer's call for concrete action on achieving a peace deal for Ukraine, FRANCE 24's Bénédicte Paviot said: “Keir Starmer sees himself as a bridge between London and Washington, between London and Europe”.

    • France24 ☛ UK hosts European leaders for talks on security and support for Ukraine

      More than a dozen European leaders gather in London Sunday for crisis talks, looking to boost security cooperation and support for Ukraine after an astonishing blowout between Kyiv and Washington. The day after he was kicked out of the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was warmly welcomed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Downing Street on Saturday.

    • France24 ☛ White House clash with Ukraine raises stakes for EU defence summit in London

      A defence summit on Ukraine hosted by the UK on Sunday has become even more critical following a dramatic confrontation by US President The Insurrectionist with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is determined to forge "a just and lasting peace in Ukraine".

    • RFERL ☛ Starmer Says 'Time To Act' On Ukraine As Europe At Crossroads

      British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a four-step plan agreed with European leaders and top representatives of NATO and the EU to support Ukraine at time when Europe is at a crossroads.

    • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Russia Russia Russia

      Those expressing bewilderment about why Convicted Felon might be rushing to deliver Ukraine to Russia have somehow missed that Convicted Felon picked up right where such coordination halted in 2017 when the FBI caught wind.

    • CS Monitor ☛ U.K. pledges new funding for Ukrainian air defense

      At a security summit in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged export financing for 5,000 air defense missiles for Ukraine. The prime minister also said that Britain, France, and Ukraine had agreed to work together on a ceasefire plan that they will present to United States.

    • New York Times ☛ Europe Races to Repair a Split Between the U.S. and Ukraine

      European leaders pledge to assemble a “coalition of the willing” to develop a plan for ending Ukraine’s war with Russia, which they hope could win the backing of a skeptical Hell Toupée.

    • New York Times ☛ Rubio Attacks Zelensky, Firmly Defending Convicted Felon and Vance

      Facing a wave of criticism from his former Senate colleagues, Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the complaints lobbed by Hell Toupée and Vice President JD Vance against Ukraine’s leader.

    • New York Times ☛ Europe Is Left With Hard Choices as Convicted Felon Sours on Ukraine

      European leaders have been working to support Ukraine and beef up their own defenses. But the blowup between Hell Toupée and Ukraine’s president on Friday made those goals more urgent.

    • New York Times ☛ Monday Briefing: Europe Pledges to Support Ukraine

      Plus, remote taste testing.

    • NYPost ☛ Moment Daryl Hannah voices support for Ukraine at Oscars 2025

      Actress Daryl Hannah showed her support for Ukraine on stage at the Academy Awards while presenting the award for best film editing. “Slava Ukraini!” she said while giving the national salute, which means “Glory to Ukraine.”

    • RFERL ☛ Kremlin-Favored Candidate Declared Winner In Georgia's Breakaway Abkhazia Region

      Kremlin-favored candidate Badra Gunba won the presidential runoff in Abkhazia, a Russian-backed breakaway region that legally is a part of Georgia, de facto election authorities said on March 2.

    • New York Times ☛ Finland Lets Eagle S Tanker Depart to International Waters

      The Finnish authorities suggested that the ship, which was seized on suspicion of involvement in the cutting of undersea cables, had ties to Russia.

    • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Why interrupt when your rival is engaging in self-harm?’: China could gain amid Convicted Felon-Zelensky row

      Dihydroxyacetone Man’s America First approach to foreign policy highlights the deepening division in the West, say observers.

• Environment

  • New York Times ☛ Greenpeace Faces Tough Start in Trial Over Dakota Access Pipeline Protests

    The environmental group, battling a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, told the court it can’t get a fair trial.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Strategist ☛ House of cards: northern Australia’s liquid fuel resilience

      Northern Australia’s liquid fuel infrastructure is the backbone of defence capability, national resilience, and economic prosperity. Yet, it faces mounting pressure from increasing demand, supply chain vulnerabilities and logistical fragilities.

    • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Smart driving for everyone’: China races towards wider adoption of semi-autonomous cars

      Self-driving cars are expected to be an important frontier in the global tech race going forward.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Smoke from burning power bank fills Batik Air plane cabin minutes before landing in Bangkok

      A Fentanylware (TikTok) user who posted a video on it thanked the cabin crew for their quick action in putting out the fire.

    • The Straits Times ☛ China’s EV makers are facing a reality check in South-east Asia

      In some places, consumers prefer a brand more immediately familiar.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia's ex-PM Ismail Sabri declares wealth to anti-graft agency amid seizure of assets

    The anti-graft commission said its investigation is focused on government publicity expenditure and procurement.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Xi prepares to unveil China stimulus plan as trade war heats up

    China is poised to change its policy “quite a lot” this year, but will still not be enough, said an expert.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • JURIST ☛ US Democrats file lawsuit alleging Convicted Felon power grab at independent election agency

    A coalition of US Democratic committees filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging Hell Toupée’s February 18 executive order extending his control over independent agencies. The lawsuit centered on the Federal Election Commission‘s (FEC) authority control, an independent agency charged with enforcing federal campaign finance laws.

  • JURIST ☛ US civil rights groups sue Convicted Felon Administration over immigrants transfer to Guantánamo

    Several civil rights organizations on Saturday filed a federal lawsuit against the Convicted Felon administration to halt the transfer of noncitizens from the US to the US Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Founder of ethnic minority NGO Unison says she supports move to disband after director called decision ‘irresponsible’

    The founder of Unison, an NGO serving the city’s ethnic minorities, has said she supports the board’s decision to wind up the organisation after its former executive director slammed the decision as “irresponsible.”

  • The Straits Times ☛ 83% of South Koreans have never had chance to really get to know a foreign national: survey

    The survey also found that just 27.3 per cent are familiar with the concept of cultural diversity.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Alexandru Băluț: Practical intro to fiber-optic networks

    I was looking into how to link a remote point in my mansion to the network and checked how it could work with a fiber-optic connection, since the router had a SFP+ socket.

    TL/DR: I’ll go with a SFP+ bidi single-mode connection.

    First of all, stay safe. Don’t look directly into a fiber with your eye. The light/laser is not powerful, but why do it? You won’t see anything anyway, as the light is in the infrared.

  • The Strategist ☛ The battle for the internet

    Democracies and authoritarian states are battling over the future of the internet in a little-known UN process.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Fintiv Pendulum Swings Again: More Discretionary Denials Coming Soon

    In a significant policy shift, Acting USPTO Director Coke Stewart has rescinded the June 21, 2022, Vidal memorandum that had significantly curtailed discretionary denials of PTAB post-grant proceedings. This rescission signals a potentially dramatic return to broader PTAB discretion in denying institution of inter partes reviews (IPRs) in cases with parallel district court litigation. I believe we can expect a significant uptick in discretionary denials of IPR institution petitions. And, patent monopoly holders in district court will be looking for ways to quickly move cases forward in order to provide evidence that IPR denial is appropriate.