Leftovers

• Coalition for Networked Information ☛ Materials from 2025 Library of Congress Designing Storage Architectures for Digital Collections Meeting

  Presentation materials from the meeting are now available and can be accessed at [...]

• US Library of Conggress ☛ Designing Storage Architectures for Digital Collections 2025 Meeting

  The DSA meeting brings together technical and industry experts; LC IT and subject matter experts; government specialists with an interest in preservation; decision-makers from a wide range of organizations with digital preservation requirements; and recognized authorities and practitioners of digital preservation. This meeting is by invitation only.

• Matthew Rocklin ☛ Transactionalism vs Respect

  Which would you rather hear?

  I like the first. It makes me feel like a person who helps people, rather than a person who’s trading favors.

• Anne Helen Petersen ☛ This is How We Fall Out of Love with the World

  It’s not that Irish people have more historical trauma to mine, she said, or that Americans love Irish shit. It’s that her civilization believes art matters — and funds it accordingly, as part of public infrastructure. They believe art makes life navigable. Its actual value is beyond measure, and like a lot of invaluable things, its survival hinges on public support.

  Americans, by contrast, will say that art absolutely matters — but balk at the prospect of funding it in ways other than owning it. Art is truly only valuable, in other words, when it can be a profit center.

• Chris Coyier ☛ christopher.org for the next 100 years

  Fortunately, after Christopher’s death, the ownership of christopher.org made it’s way to his brother David’s stewardship, who had it in a Network Solutions account he had safe access to. That’s good, that means Christopher’s site wasn’t going to disappear for a silly reason like nobody knowing how to access the registrar’s account or lapsed billing.

• Doc Searls ☛ The Offing of What’s On

  Without that and the tuner inside, it’s just a monitor.

  So let’s compare: [...]

• Science

  • France24 ☛ Science at a crossroads: Europe positions itself as the gateway to global research

    As the US turns inward and science comes under siege in the Convicted Felon era, Europe is seizing the moment. With research institutions facing political pressure and funding threats across the Atlantic, French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are launching a bold initiative to make Europe the new global sanctuary for science. At the heart of this high-stakes talent tug-of-war, FRANCE 24’s François Picard welcomes President of the European Research Council Maria Leptin for a revealing Top Story interview on how the EU plans to reclaim its place at the forefront of innovation, and what it means for the future of global research.

  • Stanford University ☛ Cold moon, hot questions: NASA director studies life beyond Earth

    NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Laurie Leshin discussed various outer space endeavors in an earth and planetary science seminar open to Stanford faculty and staff on April 15.

  • European Commission ☛ President von der Leyen puts science centre stage with “Choose Europe” Initiative

    European Commission News Brussels, 05 May 2025

    Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented today in Paris the main elements of “Choose Europe” [...]

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Reveal a Surprising New Theory on Where Echidnas Came From

    This is basically unheard of.

  • Science Alert ☛ The Opposite of Déjà Vu Can Happen, And It's Even More Uncanny

    The weird world of jamais vu.

  • Science Alert ☛ Giant Global Survey Identifies What Makes Humans Flourish

    What can you do to improve your life?

  • Science Alert ☛ Vast Hoard of Ancient Treasure Discovered on a Hill in Hungary

    Like a story straight out of mythology.

  • Science Alert ☛ Mathematician Finds Solution to One of The Oldest Problems in Algebra

    "This is a dramatic revision."

  • Hackaday ☛ Water Drops Serve As Canvas For Microchemistry Art

    If you’re like us and you’ve been wondering where those viral videos of single water drop chemical reactions are coming from, we may have an answer. [yu3375349136], a scientist from Guangdong, has been producing some high quality microchemistry videos that are worth a watch.

  • teleSUR ☛ California Moves to Create Its Own Science Institute Amid Federal Funding Cuts

    The proposed California Institute for Scientific Research (CISR), aiming to protect critical research on diseases, climate change and drug safety as federal support evaporates, was set for a hearing on Monday, said California State Senator Scott Wiener, who authored the bill.

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ EU pledges €500 million for science amid US funding cuts

    The new package, for the years 2025-27, was intended "to make Europe a magnet for researchers," von der Leyen said.

    US universities and research facilities have faced a ramping up of political and financial pressure under Trump, including threats of massive federal funding cuts.

  • RTL ☛ 'Choose Europe': France, EU leaders spearhead effort to lure US scientists

    US research programmes face closure, tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired and foreign students fear possible deportation for their political views.

    The 27-nation EU hopes to offer an alternative for researchers and, by the same token, "defend our strategic interests and promote a universalist vision", an official in Macron's office told AFP.

  • Mihai Olteanu ☛ Knowledge-based society, my ass

    "Ready for what?" he greets me as though our previous conversation didn't happen. I remind him that he's my PhD supervisor and that, at his proposal, we are studying the effects of electromagnetic fields on patients with carotid stent implants. "There is nothing for you to do at the University, you can stay home for now," he tells me. Is he really serious? Does he want me to do research from bed? I insist on reading materials related to our field of research. I want to start right away. But he can't recommend any.

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ How speaking multiple languages changes your brain

    This is true for all languages, but changes in 'higher processing' areas of the brain are needed to learn a new language.

    For example, the Broca's area located in the frontal lobe is primarily responsible for syntax — the way we structure sentences. It helps construct grammatically correct sentences and understand sentence structure.

    The Broca's area is also key for speech production and facilitates the motor control needed for articulating words.

    Other brain regions like Wernicke's area play an important role in vocabulary comprehension and word retrieval. It helps in understanding the meaning of words and storing them in long-term memory.

  • France24 ☛ 'Research renaissance': Macron envisions transatlantic safe haven for the 'brains of the world'

    As the United States grapples with a climate of growing hostility toward science and academia under President The Insurrectionist's administration, the stakes for global research leadership have never been higher. In response, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are spearheading a major conference in Paris to position Europe as a haven for disillusioned American researchers. For in-depth analysis of the EU’s strategic push to reclaim scientific talent, FRANCE 24’s Delano D’Souza welcomes Dr. A. David Paltiel, Professor of Public Health and Policy Studies.

• Career/Education

  • NYPost ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man administration restarts involuntary collections on student loan debt

    Collections had been on pause since March 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restart is expected to impact roughly 5.3 million borrowers currently in default.

  • Axios ☛ With millions in default on student loan payments, collections resume

    The big picture: Some 5.3 million borrowers who are in default could see their wages garnished if they don't resume payments.

  • The New Leaf Journal ☛ April 2025 at The New Leaf Journal

    The New Leaf Journal’s fifth birthday fell on April 27. I knew I had to write a celebration article. When I was trying to come up with an idea, I happened upon a post at a newsletter-blog called Construction Physics titled 50 Things I’ve Learned Writing Construction Physics. That gave me an idea, and that idea turned into 50 Things I Learned in Five Years of NLJ Articles.

  • Mike Rockwell ☛ Sabbatical

    One of the incredible benefits of working at Automattic is sabbaticals. After five years at the company, you’re able to take up to three months off, fully paid.

    Once you return from sabbatical, you’re eligible for another one five years later.

  • Becky Spratford ☛ RA for All: Announcing an Academic Journal Call For Papers Edited by Robin and Me and We Want YOU To Apply

    Readers’ Advisory is widely considered a core service at all libraries, but that doesn’t mean this old stand-by couldn’t benefit from a new approach. Since 2020 the way readers interact with their library’s leisure collections– from how they access materials to the dangerous increase in book challenges– has profoundly altered the effectiveness of pre-pandemic readers’ advisory tactics. In a world of challenges to the Freedom to Read and in the face of budget cuts, making sure books by all voices and for all readers are easily discoverable, proudly promoted and recommended by all staff, and available for checkout, is vital for our survival.

  • Brattleboro Reformer, Vermont ☛ Letter to the Editor: Humanities and the arts are worth fighting for | Opinion

    To the Editor: We urge fellow citizens to fight to save federal support for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), National Endowment for the Arts and State Humanities and Arts Councils, such as our Vermont Humanities Council (VHC), and Vermont Arts Council (VAC), which NEH and NEA, through Congressional appropriations, supports.

    The NEH/NEA enhance and strengthen our nation in myriad ways.

• Hardware

  • The Straits Times ☛ Making ships like chips: US taps Japan, S. Korea to counter Chinese naval dominance

    The US shipbuilding industry has a virtually non-existent global market share of 0.1 per cent.

  • Hackaday ☛ Keebin’ With Kristina: The One With The Bobblehead

    No, see, it’s what’s inside that counts. Believe it or not, [nobutternoparm] retrofitted this innocent, adorable little tikes® so-called “Kidboard” rubber-dome keyboard into a mechanical marvel. Yeah! No, it wasn’t exactly pure, unadulterated fun, nor was it easy to do. But then again nothing worth doing ever is.

  • Hackaday ☛ Round Displays Make Neat VU Meters

    You can still get moving-needle meters off the shelf if you desire that old school look in one of you projects. However, if you want a more flexible and modern solution, you could use round displays to simulate the same thing, as [mircemk] demonstrates.

  • Hackaday ☛ 3D Printed Downspout Makes Life Just A Little Nicer

    Sometimes, a hack solves a big problem. Sometimes, it’s just to deal with something that kind of bugs you. This hack from [Dillan Stock] is in the latter category, replacing an ugly, redundant downspout with an elegant 3D printed pipe.

  • Hackaday ☛ 3D Print Your Own Injection Molds, Ejector Pins And All

    3D printing is all well and good for prototyping, and it can even produce useful parts. If you want real strenght in plastics, though, or to produce a LOT of parts, you probably want to step up to injection molding. As it turns out, 3D printing can help in that regard, with injection molding company [APSX] has given us a look at how it printed injection molds for its APSX-PIM machine.

  • Hackaday ☛ Nebula Mouse: The 6-DOF You Build Yourself

    Let’s say your CAD workflow is starving for spatial awareness. Your fingers yearn to push, twist, and orbit – not just click. Enter the Nebula Mouse. A 6-DOF DIY marvel, blending 3D printing, magnets, and microcontroller wizardry into a handheld input device that emulates the revered 3DConnexion SpaceMouse – at a hacker price. It’s wireless, RGB-lit, powered by a chunky 1500mAh cell, and fully configurable through standard apps. The catch? You print and build it yourself, with a little help of [DoTheDIY]’s design files.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • European Commission ☛ Introductory remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI)

  • New York Times ☛ A Popemobile Used by Pope Francis Will Become a Mobile Clinic in Gaza

    In his last months, Pope Francis blessed an effort to transform the vehicle he used when he visited the West Bank in 2014 into a mobile health clinic to treat Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip.

  • LRT ☛ Lithuanian company makes EMF protection accessories – but do they work?

    A growing market for electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation protection accessories has sparked widespread concern over the potential health risks posed by devices like mobile phones, laptops, and Wi-Fi routers. These accessories, including stickers, keychains, and pendants, promise to block harmful radiation, with some products priced as high as 600 euros. However, experts say these products are based on pseudoscience, offering no real protection.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong authorities, consumer watchdog receive over 1,900 complaints about medical group’s sudden closure

    Hong Kong authorities have received more than 1,300 complaints about the suspected closure of a medical company specialising in health checks and vaccinations, while another 600 complaints have been filed with the city’s consumer watchdog. The complaints arose after customers discovered the Alliance Medical Group (AMG) clinics in Tsim Sha Tsui and Sha Tin were […]

  • Federal News Network ☛ Cuts have eliminated more than a dozen US government health-tracking programs

    More than a dozen data-gathering programs that track deaths and disease appear to have been eliminated in the tornado of layoffs and proposed budget cuts in the Convicted Felon administration’s first 100 days. The Associated Press examined draft and final budget proposals and spoke to more than a dozen current and former federal employees to determine the scope of the cuts to programs tracking basic facts about Americans’ health.

  • Science Alert ☛ World First: Neuralink Patient Makes YouTube Video With Brain Implant

    An epic achievement!

• Proprietary

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Microsoft finally retires Skype after 22 years of service

    Today, May 5th, marks the final day for Skype, ending its 22-year run as a staple of daily communication.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • New York Times ☛ [Slop] Hallucinations Are Getting Worse, Even as New Systems Become More Powerful

      A new wave of “reasoning” systems from companies like Proprietary Chaffbot Company is producing incorrect information more often. Even the companies don’t know why.

    • Silicon Angle ☛ OpenAI abandons plan to spin off for-profit arm [Ed: For profit? What profit?]

      OpenAI has scrapped a restructuring initiative that would have separated its for-profit and nonprofit arms. Chief Executive Officer Scam Altman announced the move today in a memo to employees.

    • Digital Music News ☛ OpenAI to Retain Non-Profit Structure With Plans to Modify For-Profit Arm For More Capital-Raising [Ed: It cannot even make a profit, it just loses a ton of money and offloads the debt to others]

      OpenAI announces its plan to remain under a non-profit structure, while continuing with plans to modify its for-profit arm to enable more capital-raising.

    • France24 ☛ OpenAI announces plan to remain a nonprofit company [Ed: Misses the point it just loses and burns lots of money, harming the planet in many ways]

      OpenAI, the pioneering artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT, announced on Monday a proposal to continue operating as a nonprofit, leaving its money-making arm under the supervision of a nonprofit board to help ensure its technology evolves safely.

  • Social Control Media

    • Digital Music News ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Promises to Extend Fentanylware (TikTok) Ban Deadline If Deal Not Reached by Mid-June

      Hell Toupée has stated he will extend the Fentanylware (TikTok) sale deadline for a third time if a deal is not struck by the mid-June deadline. It’s unclear if any negotiations with ByteDance will be successful—especially since there’s seemingly no pressure to get a deal done by any deadline.

    • Security Week ☛ TikTok Fined $600 Million for China Data Transfers That Broke EU Privacy Rules

      EU privacy watchdog fined Fentanylware (TikTok) $600 million after a four-year investigation found that data transfers to China put users at risk of spying, in breach of strict EU data privacy rules.

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Privacy International ☛ Conclusions

    • Privacy International ☛ Analysis: What does this all mean?

    • Privacy International ☛ Stardust: Research Findings

    • Privacy International ☛ Wocute: Research Findings

    • Privacy International ☛ WomanLog: Research Findings

    • Privacy International ☛ Period Tracker by GP Apps: Research Findings

    • Privacy International ☛ Maya: Research Findings

    • Privacy International ☛ Euki: Research Findings

    • Privacy International ☛ Period Tracker by Simple Design: Research Findings

    • Privacy International ☛ Flo: Research Findings

  • Confidentiality

    • Security Week ☛ Kelly Benefits Data Breach Impact Grows to 400,000 Individuals

      Kelly Benefits has determined that the impact of the recently disclosed data breach is much bigger than initially believed.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Homes destroyed after North Koreans balk at paying for fire trucks to put out blaze

    Residents of an apartment complex in Sinuiju city tried to avoid paying the high cost for dispatching fire trucks.

  • The Strategist ☛ China needs Taiwanese ports to take the island. Mines are the key to protecting them

    If China ever makes good on decades of implicit threats to invade Taiwan, most of its ground force will have to land at ports.

  • France24 ☛ In Indian Kashmir, political tattoos face a cleansing campaign

    Basit Bashir now sees up to 100 clients a day at his laser clinic in Srinagar, as thousands across Indian-administered Kashmir seek to remove "resistance tattoos"—from AK-47s to Islamic motifs like crescent moons—amid growing fear of police scrutiny following a recent deadly attack on tourists.

  • New York Times ☛ For Convicted Felon, the Constitution Is a Hindrance as He Pushes for Deportations

    Hell Toupée and his allies have portrayed their efforts to bypass due process as necessary for national security.

  • France24 ☛ Israel launches air strikes on Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attack on Ben-Gurion airport

    Israel's military confirmed targeting Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday, a day after a missile strike by the rebels briefly halted flights at Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport. The attack, which wounded four, occurred ahead of Israel’s decision to expand its Gaza operations.

  • France24 ☛ Sectarian clashes in Syria: Are the Druze targeted as a community?

    Israel launched air strikes and deployed troops in southern Syria over the weekend following clashes involving the country’s Druze minority. The violence was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous. “As we speak, we have 47 Druze militia men killed, 28 security members, 14 civilians”, FRANCE 24’s Wassim Nasr said in an analysis, adding that another 4 civilians were killed in a drone strike.

  • Site36 ☛ Police critical police inspector in Berlin receives letter with bullet to his protected address

    Following an anonymous threatening letter, Berlin Chief Inspector Oliver von Dobrowolski has seen an increase in intimidation. He was insulted in as a ‘colleague pig’. At the beginning of April, Berlin police chief inspector Oliver von Dobrowolski received an anonymous threatening letter with a live 9-millimetre ammunition.

  • Federal News Network ☛ Congress tries to figure out how to do less with less

    "They are going to increase money for defense, increase money for border security," said Mitchell Miller.

  • New York Times ☛ Sudan’s Army Says Paramilitary Forces Struck Civilian Targets

    The strikes targeted an airport, a warehouse and several civilian facilities in the eastern city of Port Sudan, the army said.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Despite Gaza war woes, India hustles to manifest its trade corridor to Europe

    Imec is an ambitious trade connectivity project seen rivalling China's Belt and Road initiative.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippine coast guard says China ship conducting illegal survey within EEZ

    The Philippines has deployed a coast guard vessel and an aircraft to challenge and escort a Chinese research ship it said was conducting illegal marine scientific research activities within the country's exclusive economic zone.

  • Vietnam enters fray at disputed South China Sea sandbank

    Hanoi formally protested recent actions by Beijing and Manila in Sandy Cay.

  • Myanmar’s Ta’ang army says it won’t give up territory despite junta, Chinese pressure

    Rebel officials met junta representatives in the latest China-brokered peace talk.

  • JURIST ☛ UN Secretary General demands a halt to acts of violence in Syria

    UN Secretary General António Guterres on Friday condemned the violence against civilians in Syria and Israel’s violation of Syria’s sovereignty, following airstrikes near the presidential palace in Damascus. Through a statement of UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the UN chief expressed concern over the violence in the suburbs of Damascus, including assassinations of local administration figures.

  • New York Times ☛ A Timeline of India and Pakistan’s Tensions Over Kashmir

    The April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir inflamed a long-simmering conflict that could boil over into military confrontation.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Kremlin calls for de-escalation in India-Pakistan tensions

    Moscow last week said it was ready to mediate after Foreign Minister Lavrov held calls with both sides.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping to visit Russia for Victory Day: Kremlin

      Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping will visit Russia on May 7-10 and join his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at commemorations of the Allied victory against Nazi Germany, the Kremlin said on Sunday.

    • RFERL ☛ Patience Wears Thin In Washington As Ukraine Peace Deal Eludes Convicted Felon

      In his first 100 days in office, one key foreign policy goal has eluded US President The Insurrectionist: ending the war on Ukraine.

    • RFERL ☛ Ultranationalist Simion To Face Moderate Dan In Romania's Presidential Election Runoff

      Ultranationalist politician George Simion easily won the first round of a rerun of Romania's presidential election, setting up a runoff with pro-Western reformist Nicusor Dan in a vote that could impact the country's political direction and its support for Ukraine.

    • Meduza ☛ No plans for Putin to travel to Middle East in May to meet with Trump, Kremlin says — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘They wanted to provoke us’: Putin justifies war, says he ‘hopes’ nukes won’t be needed, and talks succession in 90-minute propaganda film — Meduza

    • RFERL ☛ Ukraine Launches Drone Attack On Moscow, Forcing Closure Of Airports For Hours, Russian Officials Say

      Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack on Moscow that forced the closure of the capital's three major airports, Russian officials said early on May 6.

    • RFERL ☛ Czechs Say Initiative Delivered 500,000 Artillery Shells To Ukraine This Year

      Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said around 500,000 artillery shells have been delivered to Ukraine this year under a Czech-led global effort to support Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Origins of Ukraine’s drone creativity

      In a military milestone, a Ukrainian drone downed a Russian war jet. The source of the country’s culture of tech innovation is now a model.

    • New York Times ☛ A Push to Remove Symbols of Imperial Russia Divides Odesa, Ukraine

      A push to rename streets and remove statues associated with imperial Russia is dividing Odesa, whose identity is tied up in its history.

    • New York Times ☛ More American Air Defense Is on the Way to Help Ukraine

      A Patriot air-defense system is moving from Israel to Ukraine, and Western allies are discussing the logistics of getting Germany or Greece to send another.

    • Atlantic Council ☛ What’s the best way to deal with Russian information manipulation? Latvia has answers.

      By combining policy tools, public education, media support, active debunking, and international partnerships, Latvia has built a layered defense.

    • LRT ☛ Frequent border-crossing Russians to lose residence permits in Lithuania

      Russian citizens are set to lose their residence permits in Lithuania if they travel to Russia or Belarus more than once within three months. The new restrictions took effect on Saturday as part of a one-year extension of national sanctions.

    • Meduza ☛ Gunmen open fire on police in Russia’s Dagestan, killing three officers — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ ‘Let’s stop feeding the bear’: In Latvia’s easternmost region, ordinary people navigate growing militarization and a stagnant economy as the border with Russia hardens — Meduza

    • Meduza ☛ With liberators like these: Journalists uncover the violent past of the Russian soldier who broke into a home in the Kursk region and murdered a mother of three — Meduza

    • New York Times ☛ Wim Wenders on Where the War in Europe Really Ended 80 Years Ago

      In a short film and in conversation, the German filmmaker ponders the meaning of freedom, the complacency of peace and the new insecurity from Russia’s war and The Insurrectionist.

    • JURIST ☛ UN experts urge release of political detainees with disabilities in Belarus

      A group of independent human rights experts urged on Monday the release of political detainees with disabilities and serious health conditions in Belarus, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reports.

    • Meduza ☛ Moscow police warn residents not to set off fireworks ahead of Victory Day holiday amid ‘growing provocations’ — Meduza

    • LRT ☛ American nukes would be last to leave Europe – Lithuanian president’s adviser

      If the United States were to revise the size and deployment of its military contingent in Europe, nuclear capabilities would be the last to be moved, says Deividas Matulionis, chief national security adviser to the Lithuanian president.

    • France24 ☛ Netanyahu announces 'intensive' Gaza offensive, displacement of its population

      Israel is set to seize the Gaza Strip and remove its population "for its own protection", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a video posted on social control media on Monday. Plans for the new, "intensive" offensive were approved by the security cabinet earlier in the day.

    • The Strategist ☛ Underinvestment in ADF reserves weakens our security

      A larger, enhanced Australian Defence Force reserve component is vital to Australia’s security. However, it has been largely overlooked in discussions around achieving greater self-reliance and meaningful capability in short order.

    • The Strategist ☛ Vocational training can play a greater role in national security

      Australia’s national security strategy has evolved significantly in recent years, expanding beyond military and intelligence domains to address cyber threats, critical infrastructure protection and emergency response.

• Environment/Disasters

  • The Straits Times ☛ 10 dead, 70 hospitalised after tourist boats capsize in China

    The boats overturned when torrential rain swept over the Liuchong River.

  • The Straits Times ☛ 10 dead, 70 hospitalised after tourist boats capsize in China

    Around 70 people fell into the water when the two passenger boats overturned on a river in Guizhou province.

  • Science Alert ☛ Climate Change Is Threatening Eye Health. Here's Why.

    A disturbing pattern is emerging.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Grateful family looking for woman who performed CPR, saved man at Malaysia airport

      The man from Sarawak had collapsed without warning shortly after his flight landed.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia plans KL-Bangkok cargo rail link to boost trade

      The rail service is expected to begin operations later in 2025.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia tightens rules on trans-shipment of foreign goods amid growing scrutiny by US authorities

      The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry will be the sole issuer of certificates of origin.

    • New York Times ☛ India Sees a Future Making Solar Panels for Itself, and Maybe the World

      Global wariness of Chinese solar and E.V. domination offers India an opening. The government is spending money to try to catch up, but it has a long way to go.

    • CS Monitor ☛ Pursuit of critical minerals unearths new idea: Use what’s already dug up

      Rare earth elements are needed for everything from green technology to consumer goods like laptops and batteries. Mining them, though, can cause environmental problems. But researchers say some of what’s needed is already above ground.

    • New York Times ☛ 18 States Sue Over Convicted Felon’s Halting of Wind Power Projects

      The halt threatens jobs and holds back energy production at a time the president has claimed an “energy emergency,” state attorneys general said.

    • Pro Publica ☛ Energy Information Agency Data Scrapped as DOGE, Trump Hobble Agency

      The Trump administration has eliminated or stifled critical data at dozens of federal agencies. Now the administration’s actions are hitting a new realm: the energy industry.

      For decades, the Energy Information Administration, an independent agency housed inside the Department of Energy, has provided crucial reports on everything from oil and gas to the future of alternative energy. Relied on by oil company CEOs and government policymakers alike, the EIA’s data has been called the “gold standard” by Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of S&P Global and an éminence grise in the world of oil. No less a source than Project 2025 described the EIA as historically providing “independent and impartial analysis.”

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • JURIST ☛ Rights group asks Malaysia to protect Indigenous rights in timber trade

      Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report on Sunday urging Malaysia’s Sarawak state to protect Indigenous rights after a company logged timber without the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of an Indigenous Iban community.

    • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Say Dogs And Cats Are Evolving to Look More Alike. But Why?

      Signs of convergence are showing.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ Chinese holiday spending inches up but trade war weighs on services

    China’s tourism ministry recorded 314 million domestic trips during the May Day holiday.

  • New York Times ☛ China’s Garment Factories Face a Tipping Point After New Tariffs

    As a U.S. tax loophole ends, the apparel makers that sell to America are forced to consider alternative markets or cheaper locations in and outside China.

  • China touts Labor Day tourism surge, but netizens say otherwise

    Chinese netizens question official data of a boom in consumption activity during China’s five-day May Day holiday.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man orders ‘100% tariff’ on all movies produced abroad after China’s plan to cut US film imports

    US President The Insurrectionist said Sunday he was ordering new tariffs on all films made outside the United States, claiming Hollywood was being “devastated” by a trend of US filmmakers and studios working abroad.

  • New York Times ☛ How Convicted Felon’s Closing a Tariff Loophole Will Hurt UPS and FedEx

    Hell Toupée has ended a tariff loophole that generated lots of business for delivery companies shipping inexpensive goods from China to the U.S.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia’s small businesses see red over plan to extend visa-free scheme for Chinese visitors

    They worry that mainland Chinese who work illegally while on tourist visas will disrupt their livelihoods.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan, China, South Korea, Asean enhance regional financial safety net

    The finance leaders of Asean+3 agreed to launching a new rapid financing facility.

  • Atlantic Council ☛ How China turned the Red Sea into a strategic trap for the US

    Beijing’s proxy warfare turns global trade routes into battlefields that the United States struggles to defend.

  • The Straits Times ☛ India proposes zero-for-zero tariffs on US steel and auto parts

    The two nations are prioritising certain sectors to strike an early trade deal, according to sources.

  • Pro Publica ☛ How a New Type of Payday Loan Buried Thousands of Tennesseans in Debt

    Rosita Hansen was working an evening shift at a tubing factory in 2023 when a sheriff’s deputy showed up and handed her a court summons. She was being sued for failing to pay off a loan of $2,050. What confused Hansen was she had already paid a couple thousand more than she borrowed. But now the company, Advance Financial, said she owed more. Between what she’d already paid the company and the lawsuit, Advance stood to receive over $12,500 from Hansen, records show.

    Hansen, 57, had taken out the loan in 2021 after her mortgage company threatened to foreclose on her modest three-bedroom house outside Morristown, a small city in East Tennessee. Hansen made enough money to support herself, but after taking in her four grandchildren, she struggled to cover the costs of extra food and school supplies, and she stopped paying her mortgage. That’s when she turned to Advance.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Michael Geist ☛ The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 232: What Will Canadian Digital Policy Look Like Under the New Liberal Carney Government?

    Digital policy did not play a major role in the recent federal election, but the new Mark Carney Liberal government is quickly going to face a wide range of digital-related policy questions.

  • Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

    • The Straits Times ☛ The influencer election that wasn’t: Amid Convicted Felon trauma, Australian voters logged off

      Podcast and social control media views and engagement were abysmal for political content.

    • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Denies Posting a Purported Hey Hi (AI) Image of Himself as Pope

      The president suggested Catholics, who have criticized the apparently A.I.-generated image, were not offended, and said that anyone who was “can’t take a joke.”

    • Bruce Schneier ☛ Another Move in the Deepfake Creation/Detection Arms Race

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Senate pauses problematic telecommunications reform amid censorship fears

    The president has argued that the proposed legislation is needed to stop foreign governments from broadcasting propaganda in Mexico, but critics fear its wording opens the door to government censorship of the media.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Administration Asks Court to Dismiss Abortion Pill Case

    The request echoes the position the Biden administration took in the case in January, surprising some observers.

  • Federal News Network ☛ NLRB whistleblower encourages federal workers to ‘speak up’

    Daniel Berulis submitted a protected disclosure to Congress after uncovering a potential breach of data by DOGE engineers at the NLRB.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s Idea to Turn Alcatraz Back Into a Prison Draws Criticism From Tourists

    At the beloved attraction in San Francisco Bay, visitors could scarcely believe Hell Toupée had suggested turning Alcatraz back into a penitentiary.

  • AccessNow ☛ Civil society must have a seat at the EU Technology Roadmap table

    All stakeholders need to work together to find long-term solutions to complex societal issues, which are based on scientific evidence, and are respectful of rights.

  • France24 ☛ Rwanda confirms early talks to host deported US migrants

    In tonight's edition, a second drone strike in as many days targets Port Sudan: it's the first time the city's been bombed amidst the country's devastating two year war.

    Also, the US's senior advisor for Africa says that DR Congo and Kigali have submitted a draft peace proposal as part of a process meant to end fighting in eastern Congo.

    And After more than 40 years of waiting for the launch of the urban train, the transport revolution has finally arrived for Lagos.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Unicorn Media ☛ Europe’s Search for a More Localized and Relevant Search Experience

    The EU's EuroSearch vision might pave the way for a new search paradigm that will benefit local and regional communities throughout the world.

  • Zimbabwe ☛ The state of Zimbabwe’s internet and mobile networks industry – POTRAZ Q4 2024 Report

    The state of Zimbabwe’s internet and mobile networks industry report for Q4 2024 is finally out!

  • APNIC ☛ Revising ICP-2: Scope, expectations, and next steps

    Learn more about the scope of the ICP-2 Review work and the expectations going forward.

  • Meduza ☛ As Moscow’s Victory Day parade nears, officials crack down on fireworks and throttle the Internet — Meduza

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• Digital Music News ☛ Apple Hit with Class-Action Lawsuit for App Store Injunction Violations

  Apple is facing renewed legal scrutiny after the law firm Hagens Berman filed a new class-action lawsuit over Apple’s violations of a federal injunction to reform the App Store.

• Public Knowledge ☛ Digital Replicas, Part III: Evaluating Legislative Proposals [Ed: Partly Microsoft front group]

  In this third installment of a three-part series on digital replicas, we examine proposed legislation for addressing potential harms of these technologies, and measure it against our guidelines.

• Patents

  • Unified Patents ☛ DigitalDoors cloud storage patent monopoly challenged

    On April 27, 2025, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 9,015,301, owned and asserted by Digital Doors Inc., an NPE. The ‘301 patent monopoly relates to an information management system for processing data over a distributed computing system using filters.

  • JUVE ☛ UK Court of Appeal orders Fashion Company Apple to pay Optis more money in FRAND dispute

    While continental Europe celebrated the May day bank holiday, it was business as usual in the UK.

  • Kluwer Patent Blog ☛ Patenting innovative vaccines in Brazil [Ed: Profiting when many people die, even if the solution is not properly tested]

    *Also co-authored by Tatiana Costa Vaccination plays a crucial role in the prevention of diseases caused by etiological agents. The origins of vaccines trace back to the late 18th century, when Edward Jenner demonstrated the effectiveness of using cowpox as an immunizing agent against smallpox.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ The Federal Circuit’s Rigid Approach to Secondary Considerations

    Purdue Pharma has filed a petition for certiorari asking the Supreme Court to review what it characterizes as the Federal Circuit's overly rigid application of the "nexus" requirement for objective indicia of non-obviousness. I agree with the petition that the Federal Circuit's approach contradicts the Supreme Court's longstanding precedent requiring a flexible and expansive analysis of obviousness factors, exemplified both by the court's 2007 KSR decision as well as older cases, such as Minerals Separation v. Hyde, 242 U.S. 261 (1916).

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Legacy of In re Rijckaert: Inherency’s Limited Role in Obviousness Analysis

    The Federal Circuit's 1993 decision in In re Rijckaert, 9 F.3d 1531 (Fed. Cir. 1993), set an important boundary on the use of inherency in obviousness determinations. I recently reread the case and wanted to reintroduce the case that continues to be regularly cited in both patent monopoly prosecution and litigation.

    Rijckaert involved a patent monopoly application for a magnetic recording apparatus that established a precise mathematical relationship between time expansion/compression and three variables: α (the wrapping angle of tape around the drum), n (the number of head pairs), and M (non-recording intervals). This relationship—expressed as α*n/(180*(M+1))—allowed for optimal track filling on the magnetic tape.  The approach was designed to allow reduction of acoustic noise by positioning heads close together with rigid mechanical coupling, while maintaining proper signal timing and track alignment regardless of drum wobble or other mechanical imperfections.  The PTO rejected the application as obvious two prior art references, despite neither reference teaching the claimed relationship or even discussing all three variables in combination.

  • Kangaroo Courts

    • JUVE ☛ South Korean medical device manufacturer Eoflow receives sales ban in UPC territory [Ed: UPC is illegal; its very existence violates constitutions and a lot more, but sites like JUVE are paid to pretend this is OK and advocate this illegality]

      Insulet has filed suits against Eoflow and Menarini over infringement of EP4 201 327, which protects insulin patch pumps. The European patent monopoly has unitary effect which can only be asserted before the UPC.

• Trademarks

  • TTAB Blog ☛ SWIPE LEFT Merely Descriptive of, and Fails-to-Function as a Source Indicator for, Matchmaking Software, Says TTAB

    The Board upheld refusals to register the mark SWIPE LEFT for (1) "Downloadable software in the nature of a mobile application for internet-based dating and matchmaking" on the grounds of mere descriptiveness and failure-to-function, and (2) internet-based dating services on the ground of failure-to-function. Two expert surveys submitted by Applicant Tinder were of limited probative value and failed to demonstrate "that potential consumers understand the phrase 'swipe left' as a source [indicator] for Applicant’s goods or services."

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Manifest Financial Partners with Too Lost for Tailored Financial Solutions

    Too Lost has partnered with Manifest Financial to revolutionize financial management for independent artists and digital creators. This collaboration addresses pain points in the music industry–including fragmented payments, delayed royalties, and the lack of banking solutions tailored for artists’ unpredictable income streams.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Federal Judge Weighs In On Meta’s Hey Hi (AI) Copyright Fair Use Argument

    A US federal district judge is questioning Meta’s ‘copyright fair use’ defense for materials used to train its AI. The judge is hearing arguments related to the case comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors filed against Meta and Proprietary Chaffbot Company in 2023.