𝕿𝖊𝖈𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘 Bulletin for Wednesday, February 22, 2023 ┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅ Generated Thu 23 Feb 02:41:22 GMT 2023 Created by Dr. Roy Schestowitz (𝚛𝚘𝚢 (at) 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚣 (dot) 𝚌𝚘𝚖) Full hyperlinks for navigation omitted but are fully available in the originals The corresponding HTML versions are at 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈 Latest in 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒕𝒙𝒕 and older bulletins can be found at 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒕𝒙𝒕-𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 Full IPFS index in 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒊𝒑𝒇𝒔 and as plain text in 𝒉𝒕𝒕𝒑://𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.𝒐𝒓𝒈/𝒊𝒑𝒇𝒔/𝒕𝒙𝒕 Gemini index for the day: gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2023/02/22/ ╒═══════════════════ 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐒 ════════════════════════════════════╕ Previous bulletins in IPFS (past 21 days, in chronological order): QmVaSG1ALmtpgw3bqUgN2o37FRRRvK92JA5SKGzkigi5Qg QmXe8bt58f7QFPCzPjfHLJEDufxCy9LYEr1x5WRuwvvwxd QmXCyRSEqZvXQpdJJgNTZ2SmscGBN8faNeNbNZcV8zoX6D QmbqEc6DR3dJD1Zez6UEB9NiyCWswQvsYE1yFxnM6ghvgG QmaVY3HqyuHpVGyMxeT4Bud2vNW78oYnx8dJCM6ZZK5ziE QmSUai4xNvwMKU2TbSerbPiWGAVberWqCyRsFtpfBmSJUA QmdqfApkUHoNL7LgRhijLyQ917yqySCE8TFPFh8Efixmuk QmYUwzBTiff9y3NpVBbZgEPJYspVVxmzVVYkzar4igJRiY QmWU4whiYNSNx6oxSqvGVEkr1unaGuqfGtoiphqZLBAxVJ QmQUWdJviNhacCKbEie2yYrdrQaNYjUhGH7B8majeYU6Vb Qmckkfq1rqb7mTK7w6RbFZJjskRKcnUk8PdtMmcLwUhXgV QmVY5cAKghhEttE24TaNrAQgciJau5j7EoeaEmfjYdbLMD QmUUEWf3hsUuMVJFPVavJpe7kPpi5bCmXqN9PPz7qbVMEu QmVBn9QkCHpe2cDLPr9H2kyS7vx3eRh5a9NN8CDSJEKw58 QmYGXGQ6SW216dEJ4TMfGyb7yDMBF4n6zCEwza8SfCQjDJ QmbPtsyc7sJxSwGRbURzMBpmJpQAgABouVYWUyXdfGhcFh QmSCXZVE6CQ7coFZMzXzjrALhoFTURwUpGRmU6CktGzSQz QmPbC3tAdXsThGxVyQYA3w5ThD5inZGhqy6fsNKHm55vAM QmfXoJrbKnWSQ2LZPdcn6D62y58ADQrCM6VaEptoYdSLz7 QmVFthGmR5Kh2aG2L3dgjZk4cCYoHhxwUKnwVSzKutqpZ9 Qmb1ifnMR1HKQVZSvpC4pPPzaFprCcVWkqqqznNJrvKGMT ╒═══════════════════ 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐗 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⦿ EPO Central Staff Committee Says António Campinos Became Like Benoît Battistelli After 4 Years at the Office (’Lost From Sight’) | Techrights ⦿ António Campinos is Unable to Recruit Patent Examiners, Europe’s Largest Patent Office in State of Crisis | Techrights ⦿ The EPO’s Human Resources (HR) Crisis Visualised | Techrights ⦿ Private Letter From Some of the EPO’s Biggest Applicants, Complaining That Quality of European Patents is Plunging | Techrights ⦿ IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 | Techrights ⦿ Microsoft Infiltrators Still Sabotage Linux (From the Inside) | Techrights ䷼ Bulletin articles (as HTML) to comment on (requires login): http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/antonio-campinos-lost-from-sight/#comments http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-cannot-recruit-patent-examiners/#comments http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-crisis-visualised/#comments http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-quality-letter/#comments http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/irc-log-210223/#comments http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/microsoft-infiltrators/#comments ䷞ Followed by Daily Links (assorted news picks curated and categorised): http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/distros-rebel-against-flatpak/#comments http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/gdb-13-1/#comments http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/kde-plasma-5-27-1/#comments ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 64 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/antonio-campinos-lost-from-sight/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2023/02/22/antonio-campinos-lost-from-sight/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ EPO_Central_Staff_Committee_Says_António_Campinos_Became_Like_Benoît Battistelli_After_4_Years_at_the_Office_(‘Lost_From_Sight’)⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Patents at 10:34 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz Quite likely Europe’s most corrupt institution, which openly and flagrantly promotes unconstitutional, plaintiff-friendly patent courts based on illegal misinterpretations of conventions and laws 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇Campinos at JUVE⦈ Credit/source: JUVE Summary: The latest pair of meetings of the General Consultative Committee (GCC) saw António_Campinos absent, just like Benoît_Battistelli back in the old days; there’s no social dialogue, only oppression and corruption THE Central Staff Committee at the EPO has shared a report about two recent meetings, the latter of which going two weeks back. “Two meetings of the General Consultative Committee (GCC) took place around the turn of the year,” it said. Here’s the full text of the report, including the two annexes: Zentraler Personalausschuss Central Staff Committee Le Comité Central du Personnel Munich,20/02/2023 sc23019cp § Report on the GCC meetings of 16 December 2022 and 8 February 2023⠀➾ Dear Colleagues, Two meetings of the General Consultative Committee (GCC) took place around the turn of the year. Déjà-vu: President lost from sight The President of the Office chaired personally the meeting on 16 December 2022. He had already delegated chairmanship twice to VP 5 (Vice-President DG 5, Legal / International Affairs) in the past. In January 2023, he informed us that he would be delegating it again “until further notice.” Accordingly, VP 5 chaired the meeting on 8 February 2023. When President Battistelli introduced “Social Democracy” in 2014, he stressed that the President would normally chair the meetings of the GCC as the “highest consultative body” at the EPO. At least that was how he sold it to the Administrative Council1. However, after some time, he obviously lost interest in “consulting” at the highest level with the staff representation and delegated chairmanship to VP 4 until the end of his term of office. We deeply regret that the current President seems to be adopting the practice of the former President. We also called for a return to normality, where such important meetings should preferably take place in person. In vain: both meetings took place by videoconference. The meeting on 16 December 2022 In the meeting, we discussed the following two items: • Circular 356 (Resources and facilities to be granted to the Staff Committee; GCC/DOC 33/2022) – for consultation The changes discussed in the GCC meeting were limited to provisions necessary to implement ILOAT Judgment No.4550, which ruled that restricting appointments of members of the internal Appeals Committees to elected Staff Committee members was unlawful. The Circular came into force on 1 January 2023. In the meantime, the CSC has appointed four colleagues to the Appeals Committees, so that they can start working again. _______ 1 See document CA/4/14. ===================================================================== We consider that the circular plays an important role in making the work on the staff committee more attractive and effective. In our opinion, many further changes to the framework of “Social Democracy” are necessary and they must be implemented before the election of the next staff committees, who will take place soon, in spring 2023. We have drafted a (quite positive) opinion on the limited changes, which is annexed to the present report. • GCC Rules of Procedure (GCC/DOC 34/2022) – for information The changes proposed by the administration are rather technical and limited in scope. We pleaded in the meeting for more profound changes. The document will be submitted again for consultation in the upcoming GCC meeting of 28 February. The meeting on 8 February 2023 In the meeting, we discussed the following item: • Adjustments to the Organisational Structure (GCC/DOC 01/2023) – for information This item is actually a continuation of the adjustments presented in document GCC/DOC 32/2022, on which we have already written an opinion annexed to our report on the GCC meeting of 22 November 2022. We have drafted an opinion on the latest changes, which is annexed to the present report. The Central Staff Committee Annexes: • Opinion on GCC/DOC 33/2022 (Circular 356) • Opinion on GCC/DOC 01/2023 (Adjustments to the Organisational Structure) ===================================================================== Annexes § Opinion of the CSC members of the GCC on GCC/DOC 33/2022:⠀➾ § Circular No. 356 Resources and facilities to be granted to the Staff Committee⠀➾ The CSC members of the GCC give the following opinion on the revised Circular No. 356 on the resources and facilities to be granted to the Staff Committee as proposed in GCC/DOC 33/2022. The opinion relates solely to the amendments which concern the regulations on the Appeals Committee and the comments in the introduction. In particular, with regard to Articles 2(2), 3, 4, 6(2), 9, 11 and 13 of Circular No. 356, which were not the subject of the discussions on the Appeals Committee reform, there is a need for further discussion and, in the view of the CSC members of the GCC, a need for further changes. The CSC members of the GCC appreciate that the meetings of the Joint Working Group Appeals Committee reform took place in an open and constructive atmosphere. Efforts in the social dialog to achieve change in the Appeals Committee go back several years. It is encouraging that discussions have now come to a common conclusion. The ILO-AT Judgments Nos. 3694, 3785 and recently 4550 emphasised that considering the quasi-judicial functions of the Appeals Committee, its composition is fundamental. The balance sought to be achieved by the composition of this body, which includes members appointed by the Administration and by the CSC, is a fundamental guarantee of its impartiality. The Social Report for the year 2015 (CA/55/16) showed a questionable trend with only 2% of appeals allowed in 2014 and even only 0.5% in 2015. This is why the CSC has repeatedly called for the Appeals Committee to be made functional again in such a way that staff regain confidence in it. The need to resolve disputes between the Organisation and the employees of the European Patent Office in due time and in a reliable and neutral manner is important. Having legal peace is a tremendous asset. For the CSC appointees to the Appeals Committee, the CSC members of the GCC hence consider three points essential. Firstly, their protection is necessary so that they can freely express their opinion. Secondly, their career shall not be affected in any way by the activity. Thirdly, they shall have sufficient time resources to form a thoroughly informed opinion on the appeal cases. The CSC members of the GCC are of the opinion that the above points are reached by the proposed amendments to Articles 6 and 7 of Circular No. 356 and further confirmed in the introduction. Positive note is also taken of the remarks in the introduction that two further items will fall within the remit of the Appeals Committee and its Secretariat: (1) the Rules of Procedure of the Appeals Committee should allow for new CSC appointees to join as observer in cases before participating as a member, and (2) the Appeals Committee should send its planning to the Appeals Committee appointees in advance of each year. ===================================================================== The CSC members of the GCC consider it important that a joint assessment and possible amendment to the newly introduced framework will take place in one year’s time, based on the input of all stakeholders and appreciate that an agreement in this regard could be reached. Finally, the CSC members of the GCC would like to point to four key elements that characterised the preparatory discussions. • Meetings took place in an open and constructive atmosphere, in which the social partners were both able to change their original view. • Reflective thought, rather than haste, characterised the proceedings. The exchange of arguments took place both orally and in writing. • In addition to their statements and claims, the needs of the social partners were carefully analysed and taken into account. • The reports of the meetings were neutral and to the facts. It is the sincere hope of the CSC members of the GCC that under the amended regulations the Appeals Committee will function and take up its duties as soon as the CSC appointees are found. May the spirit of the Joint Working Group Appeals Committee reform also spread to other areas of the social dialogue. The CSC members of the GCC ===================================================================== § Opinion of the CSC members of the GCC on GCC/DOC 1/2023:⠀➾ § Adjustments to the Organisational Structure⠀➾ Introduction As was the case for previous documents of this kind, also for GCC/DOC 1/2023, the CSC members of the GCC are of the opinion that, in view of the impact of the proposed organisational changes on staff, the document should have been presented to the GCC “for consultation”. In addition, the CSC members of the GCC make the following comments on the organisational changes as set out in GCC/DOC 1/2023. General observations Comments and questions which we raised during the discussion on GCC/ DOC 32/2022 in the GCC meeting of 22 November 2022 have not yet been addressed and we are looking forward to a later exchange on those. During the GCC meeting, it was explained that implementing the organisational changes followed a top-down approach, i.e. the senior manager positions are first announced and filled, only then will the teams and units be (re-)organised. For other colleagues, this means that they still have to wait until the final structure of their units is known. This uncertainty creates stress and it is perceived that until the final setup is known, many decisions are put on hold, which paralyses teams in their work. Within DG 0 PD_0.2_Communication The document sets out that with the reform the management intends to “… dispel the notion of difference in importance between internal and external events, breaks down any perceived silos …”. The new structure would comprise only two teams “Event management” and “Event planning and implementation”. The fear remains that the new structure would continue to have the same partition under different terms, thus resulting in keeping perceived silos, namely those of the brain and the legs: one team responsible the strategic thinking while the other team for implementation. PD_0.8_Employment_Law_and_Social_Dialogue_Advice From one directorate in the recent past, Employment Law has evolved into a principal directorate with two directorates and a further unit, emphasising its importance. Considering that management forecasts that the litigations are going down in numbers and despite the fact that social dialogue was added to the portfolio of this PD, we are not convinced of the “strong business case” for this upgrade. Still we support and further encourage the envisaged shift of focus from litigation to social dialogue. We will monitor whether the new structure can contribute to this shift. Within DG 1 We appreciate that classification is finally being dealt with at high level and reporting directly to the COO. However, we wonder whether the transfer to DG 5 of the high-level activities in classification such as CPC implementation at national levels, or CPC training (general, advanced and field- ===================================================================== specific) as presented in the document is the right step. We received confirmation in the meeting from both VP 5 and the COO that the collaboration between DG 1 and DG 5 would continue successfully. Within DG 4 We learnt from the document that external consultants conducted a future readiness study, a copy of which is not available to us. As a result, an additional directorate is now being planned to prioritise the planning and work for other directorates within PD 4.4. VP 4 seems to be convinced that a directorate in charge of financial control (whilst not calling it controlling) is important in view of the huge budget involved in the building projects. She had already installed a similar control layer in BIT. We are of the opinion that independent control of such expenses outside the respective PD and DG would be more adequate. The trend in the past was in fact to reduce units for each area (controlling, training, etc.) for which there are central entities. We propose to strengthen again an internal audit unit. Within DG5 PD_Patent_Intelligence As set out in the general observations above, the final organisational changes for the directorates within PD 5.4 are yet to be seen. Many colleagues in current PD 5.4 enjoy to work with colleagues from other directorates and other sites within and outside their PD. Not knowing how their units will be reorganised, who their directors will be, and which transfers will take place between units and directorates, they are kept in an uncertain state that causes stress and unrest. In this context, we appreciate that VP 5 clarified during the meeting that the PD and two of the directors of future PD 5.4 will be based in Vienna. One of the issues the administration still needs to address is the provision of sufficient resources for PD 5.4 to fulfil their current and future tasks at the high quality level which their tasks require. Final remarks The conclusions drawn in our earlier opinion on document GCC/DOC 32/ 2022 remain valid. More particularly, the low staffing levels and the difficulties in coping with the workload in many areas has become apparent in the recent staff survey among staff in all DGs. This is not addressed by the planned reorganisations. Constant reorganisations should be avoided and phases of consolidation are needed to reduce the stress level for our colleagues. Therefore, a “cautious approach” and proper consultation in advance should be guiding principles. Furthermore, it appears that the goal of leaner management structures has been strictly pursued in only one DG, namely DG 1, where one single director is now responsible for up to 450 examiners, while in all other DGs many directorates have just a handful of staff. We understand the reasoning that some directors have a more specialised and heterogenous portfolio of responsibilities to manage, but the discrepancy between the directorates in DG 1 and the other DGs is glaring and the situation still seems unbalanced. Some of the core tasks of directors, such as reporting and supervising their staff, become impossible above a certain number of staff. In addition, the message sent to staff in DG 1 is that they do not deserve as much attention as staff in other DGs. To those who have spent decades serving this patent office it must be mortifying to see how quickly the employer deteriorates. “To those who have spent decades serving this patent office it must be mortifying to see how quickly the employer deteriorates.”Based on some of the latest comments that SUEPO highlights_with_these_links, the office is risking complete implosion because since 2010 it wasn’t run by suitable people and instead milked to death by special interest groups. We’ll soon show that recruitment of examiners too is in a state of crisis. █ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡿⢿⡿⢿⠿⠿⠿⢿⡿⠻⡿⡿⠿⠻⢻⡿⠿⡿⠿⠿⠿⣿⠟⢿⢿⡿⢿⡿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿ ⣿⣿⣧⣵⣤⣼⣤⣤⣤⣼⣧⣤⣤⣧⣥⡤⣌⣧⣤⣧⠤⣤⡥⣼⣤⣤⣴⣧⣤⡤⣤⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣧⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣄⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣥⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣧⣤⣦⣬⣤⣧⣴⣤⣴⣤⣦⣤⣤⣤⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣴⣴⣤⣤⣤⣤⣵⣤⣤⣤⣼⣤⣤⣤⣦⣧⣼⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣯⣥⣅⣇⣼⣨⣡⣬⣈⣈⣇⣄⣦⣸⣇⣀⣹⣉⣕⣀⣍⣈⣭⣥⣨⣀⣍⣀⣧⣏⣠⣉⣠⣅⣹⣀⣏⣤⣠⣍⣨⣍⣨⣌⣁⣭⣥⣏⣉⣍⣤⣠⣌⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣏⣌⣉⣉⣈⣉⣸⣨⣉⣉⣀⣇⣋⣈⣙⣉⣀⣇⣉⣹⣅⣉⣉⣽⣹⣉⣉⣅⣇⣁⣹⣩⣍⣹⣀⣉⣿⣿⣇⣉⣈⣉⣈⣯⣊⣉⣉⣈⣉⣹⣉⣯⣈⣩⣯⣉⣈⣏⣉⣉⣉⣉⣇⣹⣙⣁⣉⣹⣀⣉⣇⣠⣨⣹⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡏⣉⣉⣙⣉⢁⣉⣍⣉⣩⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⣉⣁⣉⣉⣉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⡉⠉⠉⠉⢉⠉⣿⣿⡏⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⢉⡉⡉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠙⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠀⠈⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠈⠨⠸⠼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠘⡇⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣟⣉⣏⣉⣻⣿⣿⣏⣹⣉⣹⣿⣿⣿⣉⣿⣉⣋⣩⣉⣉⣙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣉⣉⣹⣉⣉⣏⣋⣉⣹⣉⣉⣉⣏⣹⣏⣏⣉⣍⣉⣹⣹⣉⣉⣉⣹⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠛⠛⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠛⠛⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣿⣿⣋⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣬⣾⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡯⣝⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡜⢻⣿⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡧⢱⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠋⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣻⣿⡀⣷⣧⠄⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣿⣿⡇⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣳⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠈⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠇⢀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠉⢰⣧⡈⠁⠀⠀⠀⢀⡰⡃⠀⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣴⠏⠀⠙⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠟⠛⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣷⡠⠀⠠⠴⠏⢚⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠻⢿⡿⠁⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣀⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠟⠋⠉⣦⣀⠀⢀⣴⣾⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠻⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠷⠀⠀⠀⠞⡵⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⣿⣿⣿⡿⠻⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠋⠁⠀⠈⢙⠿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⢰⣾⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣧⣀⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡏⠀⠀⠀⣴⣾⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⣾⡎⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⠃⠀⠀⢐⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡏⠀⠀⠀⢸⡿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⢠⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⠃⠀⠀⠀⣸⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣇⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣸⣿⣻⣯⣀⣀⣸⣏⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣟⣀⣀⣀⣀⣟⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣧⣬⣭⣭⣼⣤⣥⣬⣭⣭⣭⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣬⣵⣬⣭⣽⣮⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡿⡿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⠿⡿⠿⢿⠿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⡿⡿⠿⠿⠿⡿⠿⠿⠿⢿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⠿⣿⡿⠿⡿⡿⠿⢿⢿⠿⡿⠿⠿⠿⡿⠿⢿⠿⡿⠿⠿⡿⠿⢿⢿⢿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣷⣷⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⠶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣼⡶⢷⣶⡴⢾⢿⣶⢶⣦⡶⢾⠾⠷⣶⣶⣾⣷⣶⣶⢶⣶⣾⣶⣦⢶⣶⢶⠶⣶⣭⣷⣶⣶⢷⣶⣾⣶⢶⣷⣶⣶⣷⢷⣶⡶⣶⢶⢶⣧⢷⣶⣾⣶⣶⣷⠾⡾⣾⣾⣿⡯ ⣿⣿⣷⠯⢶⣶⣤⢶⣮⣦⣶⡶⠴⣾⣦⣾⣴⣧⣤⡴⣴⡼⣼⣼⣤⣶⣦⣾⣥⣽⣶⣴⣤⣴⣾⠦⣤⡦⣦⣦⣵⣤⣼⣤⣤⣴⣧⣧⣶⡴⣴⣴⣦⣾⢤⡦⣶⣧⣼⣶⣦⡴⣦⣾⡴⣼⣶⢤⣤⣤⣦⣾⣴⣤⡤⣤⣿⡧ ⣿⣿⣷⣥⣤⣥⣽⣬⣤⣤⣧⣤⣴⣵⣤⣷⣼⣤⣴⣴⣤⣦⣧⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣧⣴⣦⣧⣤⣧⣾⣤⣤⣧⣤⣦⣴⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣦⣧⣴⣥⣤⣬⣧⣤⣤⡦⣴⣤⣮⣤⣬⣦⣤⣥⣤⣼⣴⣤⣶⣤⣤⣴⣤⣧⣴⣤⣿⡏ ⣿⣿⣷⣤⣼⣴⣤⣤⣤⣬⣼⣠⣦⣤⣬⣠⣮⣥⣼⣧⣤⣧⣤⣤⣧⣬⣼⣤⣴⣤⣤⣤⣧⣦⣤⣤⣤⣼⣠⣤⣤⣤⣨⣤⣆⣤⣤⣤⣤⣿⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣧⣴⣥⣴⣦⣼⣤⣴⣧⣴⣤⣵⣬⣥⣤⣤⣦⣤⣦⣧⣦⣿⡇ ⣿⣿⣧⣭⣬⣭⣟⣩⣥⣌⣼⣩⣥⣽⣩⣹⣋⣏⣼⣠⣭⣯⣍⣥⣬⣭⣋⣏⣩⣹⣤⣍⣏⣌⣄⣏⣭⣍⣽⣪⣀⣤⣠⣧⣤⣉⣩⣬⣉⣽⣹⣭⣡⣭⣭⣍⣹⣠⣭⣟⣩⣩⣍⣩⣽⣉⣏⣩⣯⣉⣭⣡⣭⣹⣸⣭⣿⣯ ⣿⣿⣏⣉⣉⣍⣉⣉⣉⣉⣏⣏⣹⣁⣉⣇⣩⣺⣉⣙⣩⣈⣏⣹⣉⡉⣉⣋⣻⣙⣉⡉⣉⣉⣹⣉⣏⣩⣏⣉⣉⣍⣉⣉⣹⣁⣉⣏⣉⣉⡉⣉⣹⣉⣍⣉⣉⣉⣏⣈⣹⣉⣉⣉⣽⣉⣁⣏⣉⣁⣉⣉⣉⣟⣩⣁⣿⡿ ⣿⣿⣟⣍⣉⣉⣹⣙⣉⣉⣯⣋⣩⣉⣉⣹⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷ ⣿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣧ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡟⠿⠛⢻⠛⠛⠛⠛⢛⡟⠛⠟⠛⠛⠻⣿⢻⠻⢻⡟⠛⠛⢛⠛⢛⠻⣿⠛⣿⠛⡛⢻⡟⢻⡟⠛⢻⣿⣿⡟⠛⠛⡛⠟⠛⠛⠛⠻⡛⣿⡟⢛⡟⠻⢻⡟⠟⣻⣻⠛⠛⠛⢻⡿⡻⠛⡛⢛⠛⠟⠛⡟⠻⣿⢿⢻⣿ ⣿⡟⠻⠿⠿⠳⢿⡿⣻⢺⡷⠿⠿⢻⠿⠿⠿⠻⠿⠿⢿⠿⠿⢻⠿⣿⠛⣻⢛⣻⠿⠿⢿⡿⠿⠿⣿⢻⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⡿⠿⢻⠿⢻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠟⢿⡿⠿⢿⠻⢿⠿⠿⣿⠿⠿⠻⡟⠻⠿⣿⠿⠿⡿⠿⢻⣿ ⣿⡿⠿⢿⠛⠻⠿⡻⡿⢷⠷⠿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠾⢿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⡚⠻⠿⡿⡟⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⡷⠿⢿⠿⠿⡿⠻⠿⠿⡿⠺⢿⡿⡿⠷⠿⠻⡿⠟⡿⠿⠿⠾⠾⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡷⣶⣾⡶⣾⣶⣷⣷⣶⡶⣶⡷⣶⡶⣶⣶⡶⣶⣾⣶⡷⣴⢶⣶⣾⣷⣶⣾⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⡶⣶⢿⣿⣿⣾⣶⡶⢶⣶⠷⣾⣶⣶⢷⣶⣾⣷⣶⣶⢶⣶⣷⣶⣷⣦⣶⣶⡶⡾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣿ ⣿⣷⣷⣶⣷⣷⡾⣶⣾⣾⣿⣶⣶⣷⣶⣷⣶⣶⣼⢷⣶⣿⣶⡶⠶⡿⣶⣾⣶⣾⣶⡶⣶⣷⣾⣷⢾⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⢷⣶⣾⣶⣶⡿⣾⣶⣶⣶⣿⡷⣾⡶⣶⣶⣶⡧⣶⣷⣶⣶⣷⣾⣶⣼⣷⣷⣷⢷⡶⡾⣿⢷⣾⣿ ⣿⣧⡤⢦⣤⣤⣤⣴⢤⣿⣤⣦⣦⣴⣤⣤⣤⣼⣦⣼⣯⣤⣾⣷⣴⣮⣿⣴⣤⣤⣼⣧⣦⣦⣼⣧⣤⣼⣿⣿⣷⣷⣾⢷⣿⣶⣶⣶⣾⢶⣾⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣦⣴⢼⣷⣾⣷⣿⣴⣶⣿⣷⣶⣿⣶⣴⣶⡿⣶⣾⣿ ⣿⣯⣦⣤⣤⣿⣤⣧⣤⣴⣧⣤⣬⣾⣤⣤⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣤⣬⣧⣽⣤⣤⣤⣼⣧⣤⣿⣤⣤⣤⣤⣼⣿⣤⣿⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣼⣧⣤⣤⣬⣤⣤⣼⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣧⣯⣽⣧⣬⣽⣤⣼⣥⣧⣤⣭⣽⣧⣬⣽⣷⣭⣭⣬⣬⣯⣥⣧⣅⣅⣭⣭⣼⣮⣭⣽⣷⣯⣽⣿⣿⣧⣮⣽⣼⣴⣤⣧⣭⣧⣽⣯⣽⣬⣵⣽⣤⣭⣬⣥⣁⣯⣥⣤⣔⣽⣧⣤⣭⣧⣤⣭⣤⣽⣾⣷⣭⣽⣿ ⣿⣏⣭⣏⣈⣍⣹⣍⣍⣏⣿⣉⣭⣉⣇⣩⣉⣹⣯⣋⣉⣉⣬⣿⣨⣭⣩⣹⣍⣹⣉⣉⣫⣏⣭⣞⣉⣿⣿⣿⣏⣍⣉⣏⣟⣁⣩⣉⣭⣭⣏⣈⣉⣹⣩⣁⣸⣩⣉⣭⣹⣉⣇⣭⣽⣯⣩⣭⣏⣉⣟⣩⣽⣀⣈⣉⣹⣿ ⣿⣏⣛⣛⣏⣙⣫⣋⣿⣉⣹⣯⣙⣋⣉⡏⣹⣹⣙⣉⣭⣏⣹⢉⣋⣏⣉⣋⣏⣋⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣍⣉⣿⣿⣿⣏⣉⣙⣉⡏⣙⣋⣏⣋⣏⣏⣙⡙⢉⣏⣉⣙⢹⣩⣉⢻⣛⣹⣙⣋⣙⢙⣉⣉⣹⣹⣉⣛⡿⣙⣏⣿⣿ ⣿⣟⣛⣏⣙⣉⣙⣏⣟⣏⣯⣋⣏⣛⣯⣛⢙⣛⣙⣙⣏⣫⣯⣋⣏⣩⣛⣏⣏⣍⣹⢙⣝⣟⣙⣙⣯⣹⣿⣿⣫⣻⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡟⠛⢙⣿⠛⣿⣟⢻⡛⢛⣟⣫⡟⡛⡋⠛⢛⠟⢛⢿⢛⠟⢛⡛⢻⡛⢻⠻⣛⢹⡙⠛⣿⠛⡛⠟⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡟⠟⠛⠛⠛⠟⠟⢻⣿⠛⠛⣿⠻⠛⠛⠟⠻⠻⠛⢻⡿⢻⠟⠛⠟⡿⢻⡟⠛⢛⠛⠻⠛⡿⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⡏⠉⠋⣻⠈⠋⠏⠋⡏⡋⠛⠋⠋⠋⠋⡛⢋⠙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡿⠟⠛⢿⠛⠿⢿⠛⡿⠿⠟⠿⡿⢗⡟⡿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⠿⡿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠾⠿⠞⡟⠿⠿⠿⡟⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⡿⣿⠟⠿⢿⠻⠻⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⡟⡛⢻⢿⠿⡿⠿⠿⠻⠿⢻⠿⠿⢿⣿⠿⢿⣿ ⣿⣿⠿⠿⡿⢿⠿⢻⠻⡿⢿⠿⡟⡿⠿⡟⠳⠿⠿⡿⢿⡿⠻⠿⠷⠾⠿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠻⠿⡿⠟⡿⠻⢿⣿⣿⢿⠿⢿⡿⡿⠿⠷⠿⢿⠿⢻⠟⠿⣿⠻⠷⠿⠟⢿⣿⢻⠟⠿⠿⢾⠟⡟⠿⡿⠿⢿⠻⠿⠿⠿⠻⢿⣿ ⣿⡷⠿⢿⣾⣿⣿⣾⣿⣷⣾⣾⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣶⣿⣿⣶⣾⣿⣶⣾⣿⣶⣶⣿⣷⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠾⡷⢿⠿⠶⢶⠾⢿⠾⣶⠶⠿⢿⠿⠶⣷⠾⠿⠾⠿⠶⡾⡟⡶⢷⢷⢿⠷⡞⠾⢿⠷⠶⡶⢿⣿ ⣿⣷⣶⣼⢿⣿⣿⣿⡿⡿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⠿⣿⡿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣷⣶⣾⡶⢶⣶⣾⣶⣾⣶⣶⣷⡶⢶⣷⣶⣶⣶⢶⣶⢷⠶⣷⣶⣾⣴⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣿⣶⢶⣶⡷⢾⢾⠴⣶⣿⣶⣾⣿⣶⣾⣶⣶⣿⡷⣶⣾⣴⣶⣶⢶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣷⢶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣾⣶⣾⣷⣶⣶⣶⣦⡿⣶⣶⣾⣶⣷⣶⣷⡶⠾⣷⣶⣶⣾⣶⣾⣶⣶⣿⣿⣷⢿⣴⣶⣶⣿⣿⣶⣾⣿ ⣿⣧⣥⣴⣽⣤⣧⣤⣼⡥⣬⣶⣤⣧⣤⣴⡤⣦⣯⣤⣶⣧⣼⣬⣴⡦⣦⣼⢧⣼⣬⣧⣤⣤⣥⣤⣦⣼⣿⣿⣧⣦⣤⣧⣦⣤⣥⣤⣼⣼⣦⣦⣴⣤⣴⣼⣯⣧⣤⣿⣤⣤⣥⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣼⣤⣤⣤⣴⣼⣤⣼⣿ ⣿⣧⣼⣬⣤⣦⣤⣤⣤⣧⣤⣴⣤⣤⣤⣼⣤⣤⣿⣤⣤⣤⣼⣥⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣤⣬⣧⣤⣯⣤⣬⣧⣽⣿⣿⣧⣯⣽⣬⣥⣥⣭⣿⣯⣵⣽⣿⣬⣯⣬⣿⣭⣧⣤⣤⣬⣬⣤⣍⣺⣧⣬⣱⣭⣿⣷⣅⣹⣼⣮⣽⣽⣿ ⣿⣯⣬⣥⣧⣌⣹⣿⣽⣯⣭⣭⣯⣭⣧⣥⣙⣼⣯⣽⣯⣦⣏⣭⣽⣭⣭⣥⣿⣧⣭⣮⣯⣭⣭⣭⣯⣼⣿⣿⣽⣭⣽⣿⣬⣭⣽⣿⣦⣬⣭⣽⣭⣽⣧⣷⣯⣭⣯⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣿⣼⣼⣭⣼⣤⣭⣷⣶⣾⣭⣭⣽⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 542 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-cannot-recruit-patent-examiners/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-cannot-recruit-patent-examiners/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ António_Campinos_is_Unable_to_Recruit_Patent_Examiners,_Europe’s_Largest Patent_Office_in_State_of_Crisis⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Patents at 11:37 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz Summary: Just as EPO staff has warned for years, the EPO is not capable of fulfilling its mission and instead it’s just granting low-quality patents that even prolific recipients aren’t happy about HAVING just published some_infographics about the EPO‘s inability to recruit — an ongoing crisis that started under Benoît_Battistelli and persists under António_Campinos — let’s look at a new publication from EPO staff. It’s dated 5 days ago. “The predictions are becoming reality and true observations (or facts) aren’t possible to cover up.”Not only are examiners being pressured to allow European software_patents; they’re pressured to help fake “production” in general. As a result, the presumed validity of European Patents suffers and Europe as a whole will suffer. Here’s the full publication as HTML/plain text/GemText: Zentraler Personalausschuss Central Staff Committee Le Comité Central du Personnel Munich,17/02/2023 sc23020cp § Depletion of the Workforce⠀➾ ⚓ Failure to recruit under the current administration⠀⇛ Dear Colleagues, Despite it only being February, we are already facing a surge of the ever-present production pressure. The message from above is that we are behind target, and must all dig deep to make up the deficit. Many colleagues are having the urgency pressed upon them from their line managers, with the message that we just aren’t individually doing enough. But what is the root cause of this problem? Is it that we are all idle workers with free time in the work day where we can pick up the pace? Or is there another reason? This paper looks at how the workforce numbers have developed over recent years, and further visualises the Offices plans for future recruitment. The findings unfortunately do not bring comfort – we are far from experiencing the worst of the production pressure. The dwindling examiner workforce The graph below shows how the patent applications have risen since 2012, and further shows the prediction of the Office for the coming years. In stark contrast to this trend is the decrease in the number of examiners, since the peak in 2017. The plan of the Office for future recruitment of examiners is also indicated, illustrating that not only do they currently see no issue with these opposing trends, but that they intend to continue in this direction. This means only one thing for the examiners that remain – more pressure to produce, and less time to dedicate to each file. This has also not gone unnoticed outside of the Office. The IPQC has sent a letter to the EPO highlighting their concerns regarding the lack of time allotted to examiners for search and examination and the deteriorating quality. 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇Examiners_plan⦈_ Comparing the figures in the graph for 2022 with 2012, it can be seen that the number of examiners is practically equivalent, but the number of incoming patent applications has risen by 30%. The Office often touts the improvements in the IT tools as a driving factor of the increase in “efficiency”. However, from the perspective of the users, the replacement IT tools are experienced as merely a new user interface that we must become familiar with immediately, with similar functionality as the old ones. They certainly do not enable us to think quicker so that we can read and analyse documentation any faster than before. No better for formality officers The graph below shows the evolution of the number of formality officers from 2018 (prior data is not comparable due to a reorganisation). The situation is certainly no better for these colleagues. In fact, there has been no recruitment at all of formality officers since 2019. In this area, the numbers have fallen rapidly, around 12% since 2018, just 4 years. The plan for 2023 is also for zero recruitment, with some potential for recruitment thereafter. However, the planning still foresees a reduction in formality officers for every single year until 2027. 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇EPO_FO_plan⦈_ Low recruitment – choice or consequence? It is not clear whether the stark lack of recruitment is solely due to a choice of the current management, or whether it is also impacted by the difficulty to recruit considering the changes to our employment conditions, particularly the 2018 introduction of fixed- term contracts for all new staff. This job insecurity, which is imposed upon recruits for 10 long years for a role that is a lifetime commitment, undoubtedly impairs the EPOs ability to recruit highly qualified scientists and engineers. The Office do hint at the difficulties they are facing, in that they have turned to headhunting in response to the current highly competitive job market. Halting recruitment completely for more than two years, and then hiring fewer examiners than leavers for a prolonged period raises questions as to whether the administrations’ description of it being a “cautious planning approach” and a “prudent recruitment policy” are really appropriate. This decision to completely freeze recruitment in more favourable times brings to mind the idiom “make hay while the sun shines”, but it seems we’ve waited until it’s raining. The situation of the aging population at the Office, in that the average age of staff has risen from 45 in 2015 to almost 50 in 2021, raises even more concerns about the recruitment policy. Because of our unbalanced age pyramid, the number of expected retirements rise rapidly year on year, yet we depend upon experienced colleagues to train the new recruits. ===================================================================== What should we do about it? What should we do when faced with mounting pressure from our line managers to do more? One thing we certainly should not do is to work any more hours than contracted, a possibility that becomes all the more possible with the blurring of the physical boundaries between work and home. This is not a short-term issue that can be overcome in a few weeks or months of toil. This is a conscious decision of the administration to test the limits of the workforce by pushing towards a skeleton crew, and working under high pressure conditions for prolonged periods of time can lead to chronic stress. By (over- )achieving the goals set for us we simply push the bar higher. There must be a limit, and we have reached it, and should show that with our actions. There is one simple answer to the Office being behind target and not managing to deal with incoming workload, and that is something that is not within our ability to fix – more recruitment. We should keep in mind the idea that “failure to prepare on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part”. It is not our job to fill the void that management planned for. But it is our job to collectively set boundaries of how much of our time, effort, and energy we are willing to give to the unsatiable requesters. The Central Staff Committee Credit is due; the staff union has warned about this for years. The predictions are becoming reality and true observations (or facts) aren’t possible to cover up. Even some_of_the_largest_stakeholders_complain. █ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⢿⠿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⠿⢿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣼⣼⣀⣴⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠀⢸⡏⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⣿⣿⣥⣤⣤⣣⣣⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠻⠛⣥⣀⡌⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⡉⡍⠉⢙⢽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⠏⠉⠉⡝⡍⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⢿⣿⡟⠛⠟⣡⣦⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣾⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⢀⣸⣿⠿⠿⠿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢘⣛⡃⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⢿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡿⠀⢸⣿⣤⣡⣀⣴⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢁⣀⣾⣾⣷⣴⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣥⣤⣦⣣⣣⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣧⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡋⠙⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⣉⣿⣿ ⣿⡿⠘⢸⣯⠉⡉⠉⢉⢽⣿⣟⣛⣛⣛⣛⠀⢀⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣻⣿⠏⢩⡉⡝⡍⣿⡇⢀⣿⣿ ⣿⣷⠠⠸⣿⣿⣾⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢃⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣾⣿⡃⠀⣿⣿ ⣿⡿⠤⢨⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⡟⠛⢡⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⢿⠿⣿⡇⠉⣿⣿ ⣿⡷⠶⢼⣿⣼⣼⣤⣴⣽⣿⣷⡆⠀⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⡆⠀⢀⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣥⣤⣤⣧⣥⣿⡇⠀⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠐⢺⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢃⣀⣸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣃⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠀⢸⣯⠉⡉⠉⢉⢽⣿⣟⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⠀⠀⠘⠛⠉⢉⣐⣛⣛⣛⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣻⣿⢍⠉⠉⡝⠍⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡏⠄⢾⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⢋⣴⣴⣿⣿⣄⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣦⣤⣴⣽⣿⣷⠀⠀⣐⡂⠀⠀⣴⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣵⣤⣤⣥⣥⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣿⣿⣦⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠀⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠆⠀⠀⠀⠰⠀⠀⠀⠰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⠙⠹⠉⢉⢽⣿⣟⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣃⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣻⣿⢍⠩⡉⡝⠍⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⢿⣿⡿⠿⣿⣿⡟⢿⣿⣿⠟⢿⣿⡿⡻⣿⣿⡟⢻⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⡿⡿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⡿⡻⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⡿⠻⣿⣿⢟⢿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⡣⣀⣵⢛⢄⣪⡾⠋⢕⣴⠟⡣⣠⣼⢛⢬⣠⡞⡃⣝⣼⡟⡣⣠⣼⢛⢄⣢⡟⡃⢐⣥⡟⠑⢐⣼⢛⠄⣠⡞⡣⢐⣥⠟⠐⢁⣾⢋⠆⣠⡟⡣⢀⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣐⣴⣿⣶⣠⣾⣿⣄⣰⣾⣧⣐⣴⣿⣼⣠⣾⣿⣄⣰⣿⣧⣀⣶⣿⣔⣠⣾⣿⣄⣴⣿⣧⣀⣶⣿⣔⣢⣾⣷⣄⣴⣿⣧⣀⣶⣿⣄⣢⣾⣷⣆⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣨⣄⣆⣀⣂⣀⣲⣀⣀⣀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣨⣄⣀⣁⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣯⣭⣽⣭⣭⣯⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣭⣭⣽⣭⣭⣯⣯⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣗⣀⣊⣂⣠⣺⣿⣯⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⡍⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⢹⣿⣇⣀⣈⣂⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⡿⢿⠻⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡿⠿⡿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣴⣤⣴⣽⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⡆⠠⠶⠒⣂⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣧⣤⣬⣥⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡅⢠⣾⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠠⢼⣿⠉⠝⠍⠉⢽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡏⠉⡝⠍⣿⡇⠨⣿⣿ ⣿⣟⢀⢸⣿⣿⣾⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣷⣾⣾⣾⣿⡇⠈⣿⣿ ⣿⣷⠀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠤⣿⣿ ⣿⡟⠈⢺⣷⣀⣁⣈⣠⣻⣿⣯⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣇⣙⣸⣈⣿⠢⠐⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠐⢘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡗⠚⢿⣿ ⣿⡟⠒⢴⡿⠛⠻⠛⠻⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡟⠛⢻⡛⣿⠀⠐⣿⣿ ⣿⣟⠛⢺⣿⣤⣵⣤⣴⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣧⣤⣵⣥⣿⡇⠠⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠈⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢋⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠤⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠀⢺⣯⢩⢩⠉⢉⢽⣿⣟⣛⣛⣛⠉⠉⣁⣚⣛⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡏⠩⠩⠉⣿⠃⣠⣿⣿ ⣿⣇⣈⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣠⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡿⠿⢿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣘⣬⣂⣠⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣗⣀⣣⣃⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠠⠀⠀⠠⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠄⠀⠤⠀⢀⡀⠀⠀⠰⠀⡠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⠛⠛⠛⠛⣻⣿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡿⢛⢛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣵⣴⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⠿⡿⡿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⡿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⠿⠿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⡿⡿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣾⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣗⣑⣀⣆⣔⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣘⣴⣀⣡⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣀⣂⣑⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣗⣑⣀⣈⣂⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣈⣘⣄⣀⣐⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣀⣃⣑⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⡿⡿⠿⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣴⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣴⣦⣤⣼⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣼⣼⣭⣧⣧⣯⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣼⣼⣤⣧⣧⣧⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 778 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-crisis-visualised/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-crisis-visualised/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ The_EPO’s_Human_Resources_(HR)_Crisis_Visualised⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Patents at 11:09 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇Examiner_Recruitment_and_Patent_Applications⦈_ 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇Formality_Officer_Recruitment_and_Patent_Applications⦈_ Summary: Human Resources (HR) at the EPO has repeatedly failed the institution for over a decade; this was easily demonstrable based on a number of yardsticks and the_persons_responsible_for_this_calamity have since then been rewarded_for it with a promotion and pay increase/bonuses; it’s not clear if the EPO has a future, except as a kangaroo court’s rubber-stamping minion ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠃⠑⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡛⣿⢻⠿⣿⠟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣽⣤⣴⣦⣤⣽⣥⣼⣴⣤⣥⣤⢮⢵⣼⣯⣽⣦⣴⣦⣵⣤⣹⣤⣥⡯⣥⣤⣥⣧⣥⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣾⣾⣦⣾⣼⣦⡿⠦⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣥⣴⣤⣼⣤⣥⣷⣴⣤⣼⣤⣴⣮⣷⣾⣤⣦⣧⣄⣤⣼⣧⣤⣤⣤⣮⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⡿⠀⢿⠀⢿⣺⢽⣿⡇⡇⠈⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡟⡛⠛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⣀⠀⣀⠀⣈⣿⢿⣿⡇⡇⠀⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⡿⡃⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⢿⡀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣿⣤⣿⣤⣿⣽⣿⣿⣥⣧⣤⣧⣭⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡟⠻⠛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣾⣿⣿⣜⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠉⢉⣥⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⡛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣉⣉⣩⣉⢹⣏⣉⣉⣙⣉⣹⣍⣏⣉⣹⣉⣹⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡛⣿⡟⠙⣵⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣝⠃⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠛⣟⠀⣼⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣍⣭⣭⣯⣥⣧⣿⣤⣭⣯⣭⣯⣼⣼⣩⣭⣽⣽⣿⣿ ⣿⠄⣿⡟⢟⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⣶⣆⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⡘⣿⣿⣿⠛⢛⣥⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠻⡛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣽⣿ ⣿⠁⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠻⣱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢷⡹⢿⢟⣤⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣉⣉⣏⣩⣉⣙⣹⣙⣍⣉⣩⣉⣻⣉⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⠅⣿⣏⣉⣹⣿⣿⣿⡏⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣀⣨⡅⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⣉⣋⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣭⣫⣭⣧⣭⣻⣭⣩⣣⣜⣭⣨⣫⣍⣯⣭⣤⣿⣭⣹⣿ ⣿⡅⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣽⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠉⣼⣿⣿⣿⣴⡝⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⢛⠛⢟⣿⣟⠁⢙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⢥⣿⣏⣉⣹⣿⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⣵⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢙⠯⠸⣿⠟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⣍⣋⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣾⣏⣆⣸⡿⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⠜⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣃⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣿⣧⣰⣾⠀⣿⡏⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠻⡿⠻⢿⠿⢿⠿⡟⡿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⢘⣿⣏⣉⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⢀⣛⠉⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣇⣸⣽⠀⢿⡟⢿⣿⣋⣋⣍⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣷⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣷⣷⣷⣶⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠋⢩⣾⣿⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣷⡆⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⡶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣏⣩⣽⣿⠉⢹⠏⠉⣭⣦⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡷⣿⣿⣏⣙⣍⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣴⢴⠤⠤⡴⢤⢧⠤⡴⠧⡤⠤⣴⠦⢼⡤⠤⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣾⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣀⣀⣀⣢⣆⣂⣒⣂⣂⣖⣒⣲⣖⣲⣒⣖⣀⣀⣀⡀⣨⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣿⣶⣶⣾⣶⠷⢷⣶⣶⣦⠾⠷⠴⣶⣦⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣧⣬⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣴⣭⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⡄⡌⢻⡟⠀⠄⣄⠘⣿⠃⠀⣀⡄⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⣬⠟⣱⡼⣋⣶⢟⣱⣾⣏⣾⣿⣵⡿⢯⣼⠻⣤⠟⢁⡼⢋⣺⢟⣹⣿⣛⣷⣿⣳⣿⣏⣼⠿⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣄⣀⣀⣾⣷⣀⠀⠁⣰⣿⣆⠈⠀⠁⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣷⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣷⣿⣿⣾⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠻⢻⠛⢻⣿⡛⠛⠛⢛⣿⣿⢻⣛⠛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣴⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠭⠩⠭⠍⠍⠍⠩⠍⠉⠉⠍⠩⠉⠉⠉⠭⠉⣍⠉⡭⠉⠍⠉⠉⠩⠭⠭⡭⠭⡭⠍⠉⠩⢭⠭⠍⠍⠩⠭⠩⠍⠉⠉⢭⠉⠩⢭⠍⠭⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣤⠠⣠⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤ ⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⡿⡿⠿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⡿⡿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣍⣍⣩⣹⣯⣉⣹⣉⣉⣉⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣧⠤⠶⠶⠤⡤⠿⠤⡤⠦⢧⠤⣤⠧⠦⡬⢬⠧⠶⡼⢦⠥⢤⠴⠤⢷⡤⠧⢴⠷⠦⣤⠶⠼⡴⠿⠦⠴⡧⡧⠤⣦⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣴⣴⣤⣤⣧⣭⣬⣭⣬⣤⣭⣬⣦⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣿⣷⣷⣾⣾⣿⣶⣾⣾⣶⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣾⣦⣦⣾⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣿⣷⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣿⣷⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢟⣿⣿⣿⡇⠐⢲⢸⣿⣿⣿⡉⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠿⢿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣸⡇⣿⣀⣀⡀⠀⢀⢀⣀⢈⣿⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣽⣿⣿⣯⣥⣤⣾⣬⣿⣿⣿⣧⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠛⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠀⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣃⠀⣿⣿⣿⡟⡻⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⠾⣤⣴⣤⣮⡸⣦⣤⣤⠤⠤⡌⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⡇⢸⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢘⣭⣵⣾⣿⣧⣿⣮⣝⠿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⢨⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣾⡏⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣮⣶⣦⣿⣤⣷⣵⣾⣴⣶⣧⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⡇⢸⣿⢛⠛⣿⠿⠿⠧⠼⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠷⠮⠀⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠛⠵⠾⠷⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⡟⠻⢻⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣭⣿⣿ ⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣮⡻⣿⣿⠀⢰⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣉⣉⣭⣁⣍⣹⣉⣩⣃⣈⣍⣀⣩⣯⣹⣈⣩⣍⣏⣍⣉⣭⣿ ⡇⢸⣻⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢎⠱⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠛⢻⡎⢾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⡿⠛⡟⠻⢻⣿⠟⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣇⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣡⣿⣷⡅⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢺⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣀⣷⣀⣷⣠⣉⣿⠇⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⡇⢸⣻⠻⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢟⣄⣴⣯⣭⣭⡅⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣧⣼⣮⣛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢛⢻⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⡿⠿⣿⡿⡿⡿⠿⠿⠷⡾⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢟⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣮⠂⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣷⣶⣷⣶⣷⣶⣷⣷⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣇⣺⣿⡉⣙⣿⣿⣿⠉⢉⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣿⣝⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⢙⢹⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⢶⣶⣶⣶⣶⠶⣶⡶⢶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⠶⠶⣾⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡻⠙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡤⣤⣤⣤⣴⣤⣧⣤⠤⠤⠤⠤⣤⣶⣤⣧⣦⣼⣴⣬⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣩⣉⣿⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⣛⢀⣛⣛⣿⣏⣙⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣦⣴⣷⣤⣤⣾⣥⣥⣿⣤⣽⣤⣷⣷⣦⣤⣤⣼⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣴⣯⣼⣿⣿⣧⣾⣇⣿⣿⣿⣬⣤⣼⣿⣿⣧⣵⣼⣿⣿⣿⣧⣾⣤⣿⣿⣿⣬⣥⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⠉⠉⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⡛⠛⠛⠛⢛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢛⠛⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⢀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⠀⠀⢠⠀⡤⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⡿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⡿⠿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠿⢧⠦⠤⠤⡧⠤⢼⡤⠼⢧⠤⠷⠴⠤⠤⣦⠦⡤⡦⠵⠤⠧⢤⢶⠦⢤⠴⠼⢤⢶⠦⢤⠦⠧⡤⠧⠤⠬⠬⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠶⢾⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡶⠦⠤⠶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣦⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣷⣶⣷⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣾⣶⣾⣦⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣾⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠩⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠩⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠩⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 860 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-quality-letter/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2023/02/22/epo-quality-letter/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ Private_Letter_From_Some_of_the_EPO’s_Biggest_Applicants,_Complaining_That Quality_of_European_Patents_is_Plunging⠀✐ Posted in Europe, Patents at 10:48 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz The original: 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇EPO_quality_letter_page_1⦈_ 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇EPO_quality_letter_page_2⦈_ Summary: Following the recent debates about EPO patent quality going down the drain (quantity,_not_quality, as per leaked communications from management) it is reassuring to see very large companies taking note and lashing out ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠻⠛⠻⠛⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠟⠿⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠈⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠁⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣸ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠟⠻⠋⠛⠛⠙⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠛⢻⠛⡛⠋⠛⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⡙⠟⡋⡙⠛⢋⠙⢛⢹⢛⡍⠙⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠛⠹⠛⠛⠙⠛⠋⡙⠙⢛⠛⠛⠻⠛⠛⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣽⣙⡉⣋⣛⣹⣉⣋⣙⣍⣯⣩⣙⣛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣉⣉⣏⣉⣝⣋⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣯⣉⣉⣭⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣔⣅⣀⣼⣄⣉⣅⣁⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠿⠟⠟⢿⠟⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠟⣿⢟⡿⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣙⣋⣹⣙⣩⣏⣉⣉⣉⣙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣙⣋⣹⣍⣋⣛⡻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠛⢻⠛⠛⠛⢋⠛⠙⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⡻⡟⠛⠛⠛⢻⠛⠛⠋⠛⢛⠏⠛⠛⠛⢻⡝⡛⠛⢿⢻⠛⠛⠋⢻⠙⠛⡟⠛⠋⠛⠛⠹⠛⠛⠛⠛⢻⢛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⡟⢻⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠛⠛⢻⡛⠛⠛⠙⠛⡟⠛⠛⠛⠛⣻⠃⠛⡟⡛⠟⢿⠛⠛⡟⠙⢻⠛⡛⢻⠛⠛⡟⠛⠛⠹⡟⠛⢻⠛⠛⡟⠛⠛⠛⡟⡛⠛⡛⠚⡟⠛⠛⠛⠛⢻⠛⠓⢛⠛⠻⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⢻⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡗⠛⢛⠛⡛⠛⠛⠛⠓⡟⠛⢻⠛⠛⡟⠛⠛⠛⠛⡟⠛⡛⢛⠛⠛⠛⠛⡛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠟⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⢿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣯⣥⣥⣤⣤⣼⣤⣄⣤⣥⣤⣤⣥⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣼⣤⣤⣠⣤⣤⣼⣤⣥⣧⣼⣠⣤⣤⣦⣤⣴⣠⣤⣤⣤⣦⣥⣤⣥⣴⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣦⣤⣤⣷⣤⣼⣦⣥⣄⣥⣤⣥⣬⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣤⣤⣼⣬⣤⣬⣤⣤⣤⣠⣴⣤⣼⣦⣴⣤⣤⣼⣤⣤⣥⣬⣤⣬⣤⣵⣬⣤⣤⣤⣧⣤⣶⣥⣼⣤⣼⣴⣤⣤⣌⣧⣤⣼⣤⣾⣴⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣬⣤⣥⣬⣤⣤⣭⣦⣬⣤⣬⣴⣤⣼⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣥⣼⣤⣤⣬⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣴⣤⣬⣤⣦⣤⣤⣠⣬⣠⣤⣤⣎⣷⣤⣤⣤⣤⣿⣧⣤⣬⣬⣥⣾⣥⣤⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣭⣤⣯⣠⣥⣤⣠⣤⣥⣬⣤⣤⣹⣤⣵⣯⣥⣤⣥⣼⣤⣤⣽⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣴⣤⣤⣌⣸⣦⣇⣥⣤⣥⣼⣄⣴⣤⣦⣦⣬⣮⣬⣤⣥⣷⣤⣷⣮⣌⣤⣵⣤⣦⣴⣧⣬⣤⣥⣨⣤⣮⣤⣼⣭⣌⣠⣤⣤⣬⣼⣨⣤⣬⣤⣼⣧⣬⣬⣥⣧⣄⣤⣵⣦⣧⣤⣧⣌⣤⣭⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣥⣭⣤⣧⣤⣦⣧⣭⣼⣤⣥⣥⣵⣄⣠⣤⣭⣾⣬⣦⣭⣶⣤⣅⣧⣼⣤⣤⣧⣤⣆⣾⣤⣬⣾⣤⣌⣠⣭⣤⣄⣡⣬⣼⣬⣥⣭⣷⣧⣥⣤⣭⣭⣥⣤⣮⣥⣭⣽⣭⣼⣯⣥⣬⣥⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣡⣩⣬⣭⣤⣮⣥⣻⣬⣭⣭⣭⣬⣻⣭⣼⣭⣬⣧⣌⣩⣌⣯⣬⣩⣬⣽⣭⣭⣯⣭⣍⣭⣬⣭⣼⣭⣶⣭⣭⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠿⡿⠿⠟⠟⠿⠿⠻⠿⠟⡟⠿⠿⠟⡿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠟⢿⠻⠿⠻⠿⠻⠿⠿⠿⠻⠿⠿⢿⠿⢻⢿⠿⠿⠿⠻⡿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠟⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠟⢿⡿⠿⡟⠿⠟⠟⠿⠿⠟⠿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠶⠷⠶⢶⠶⠶⠲⠶⠶⠶⠳⠶⡶⠶⡷⠶⠷⠒⠿⠶⢲⠾⠶⡖⠲⡲⠖⠾⠶⠶⠶⠾⢲⠾⡶⠶⢿⠶⠖⡶⠶⠷⢶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣷⣶⣷⣷⣷⣾⣶⣷⣷⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣿⣶⣾⣾⣶⣷⣾⣾⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣷⣷⣾⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣽⣉⣋⣏⣉⣉⣉⣉⢹⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣁⣉⣉⣏⣉⣉⣉⣍⣉⣹⣉⣉⣇⣙⣉⣉⣉⠉⣍⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣍⣹⣉⣉⣏⣩⣋⣍⣉⣉⣉⣉⣏⣉⣉⣉⣏⣉⣹⣉⣋⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣹⣩⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣉⣉⣋⣏⣉⣉⡟⣉⣹⣉⣏⣉⣉⣍⣍⣉⣋⣙⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣏⣉⣉⡉⣉⣙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠿⡿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣿⣷⣶⣶⣴⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢿⣿⣏⠛⠛⠙⠙⡟⡟⢛⠛⠋⢻⠟⠙⣻⠛⠋⣏⠛⣏⠻⢹⠋⠋⠛⠛⡛⠛⠛⡏⢛⠋⠋⠟⠉⢿⠉⡏⠉⡏⢉⠩⠛⢛⠋⡟⡟⢛⠛⠛⡛⢛⠛⠋⠛⠛⢛⠋⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠛⢻⠟⠛⠋⠛⢻⠹⢻⠟⠛⡛⠛⡛⠛⠻⠋⠋⠉⢻⠙⠛⠛⢻⠉⢿⠉⠉⢿⠙⠩⣭⠛⠋⠛⡟⠛⠙⢛⠙⠋⠉⠙⢻⠛⠛⠛⢻⠙⢛⢿⢋⠋⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠋⠟⠛⢹⠙⠋⠛⠛⠛⠛⢛⢹⠛⠛⠛⠙⡟⠋⢛⡛⠛⢹⠛⠋⢻⡙⢻⠉⠛⣟⠛⠛⠋⠋⠛⢻⠙⠛⠙⢛⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢿⣿⡏⠙⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⡟⠋⠙⢛⠛⠛⠛⢹⠋⠛⠛⠛⠛⡟⡛⠛⠛⠛⠛⢛⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢿⣿⣏⠛⠛⠙⠙⡛⠛⢛⡋⠛⠛⢻⠛⠙⢹⠛⠟⠏⠉⠋⠛⠛⡟⠛⠛⠛⣛⡟⠋⠙⢛⠛⢻⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⡟⠛⡟⠋⠋⡟⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⢛⠛⡛⠛⡛⡟⠛⠛⠋⢻⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⠛⠛⢛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠻⡛⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣏⣙⢛⡋⠛⠛⢻⠋⡿⡟⢻⠛⢋⠛⡙⣛⢉⢋⡛⢛⠏⠙⠛⠉⠟⡯⠙⠛⡿⠛⢻⡩⠉⠉⣟⡏⡛⢛⠛⣟⡯⡛⢛⠛⠏⡛⡍⠛⡛⠙⠛⣻⣻⢉⡋⠛⠛⡛⡛⠋⡟⠋⠙⢹⡩⠿⡏⠉⠛⡙⣻⣿⣿⣿ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣯⣉⣉⣋⣉⣹⣿⣟⣉⣙⣉⣋⣹⣉⣩⣹⣙⣙⣭⣏⣉⣙⡏⣹⣉⣝⣿⣻⣉⣩⣿⣹⣉⣉⣉⣹⣹⣉⡙⣉⣹⣉⣋⣭⣋⣙⣉⣉⣹⢉⡭⣏⣉⣉⣉⣹⣙⣩⣙⣏⣉⣟⣏⣉⣙⣝⣉⣉⣉⣙⣉⣙⣛⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠠⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣠⣤⣄⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡯⢻⣿⡟⠝⠛⠛⠋⠛⠛⡟⠛⠛⠛⠙⠛⠋⠛⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣽⣿⣿⣤⣆⣸⣫⣄⣩⣹⣩⣽⣭⣭⣩⣭⣍⣭⣸⣋⣍⣩⣿⣁⣌⣉⣏⣉⣁⣡⣁⣠⣭⣭⣉⣙⣌⣉⣹⣍⣉⣋⣃⣉⣁⣉⣀⣉⣹⣁⣩⣉⣇⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣍⣁⣏⣀⣅⣉⣹⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣦⣤⣶⣍⣧⣵⣇⣭⣤⣭⣶⣭⣼⣧⣡⣩⣍⣥⣥⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣼⣿⣧⣦⣥⣭⣦⣧⣮⣤⣧⣮⣤⣤⣤⣵⣼⣦⣧⣬⣼⣭⣭⣵⣦⣭⣥⣘⣥⣬⣤⣬⣭⣏⣩⣩⣍⣬⣍⣤⣈⣈⣭⣼⣀⣽⣍⣇⣋⣉⣝⣍⣩⣧⣋⣏⣍⣩⣏⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣄⣵⣤⣦⣤⣤⣬⣤⣼⣦⣬⣾⣤⣴⣦⣥⣷⣬⣄⣵⣧⣤⣷⣼⣤⣥⣧⣵⣬⣮⣤⣥⣤⣥⣭⣥⣦⣭⣬⣿⣤⣬⣽⣬⣭⣍⣝⣭⣡⣤⣫⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣼⣿⣯⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣧⣤⣶⣤⣤⣴⣦⣤⣬⣼⣬⣤⣄⣥⣼⣤⣥⣤⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣤⣤⣬⣶⣼⣮⣤⣦⣷⣼⣬⣡⣥⣷⣴⣤⣦⣨⣭⣵⣼⣤⣤⣤⣤⣦⣬⣸⣤⣤⣤⣤⣭⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣧⣼⣤⢤⣤⣤⣄⣇⣴⣄⣤⣴⣦⣥⢀⣤⣮⡿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣬⣿⡯⣤⣤⣄⣤⡼⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣧⢰⣤⡤⣤⣤⣼⣤⣦⢤⣤⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣤⣠⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣷⣤⣦⣤⣤⣥⣶⣾⣤⣥⣤⣤⣦⣷⣤⣤⣵⣤⣬⣧⣤⣬⣶⣦⣤⣦⣤⣠⣼⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣤⣤⣴⣤⣧⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣤⣴⣤⣤⣤⣼⣤⣤⣤⣤⣦⣤⣤⣠⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣼⣤⣬⣤⣤⣧⣤⣤⣤⣤⣬⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢿⣿⡟⠛⠛⢻⠛⠟⠛⠛⠛⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣦⣷⣮⣤⣵⣤⣮⣼⣮⣼⣬⣽⣨⣭⣩⣬⣭⣩⣉⣹⣩⣯⣍⣍⣉⣝⣍⣹⣉⣉⣽⣤⣉⣅⣨⣉⣋⣏⣉⣝⣉⣉⣧⣉⣏⣍⣙⣹⣩⣶⣉⣹⣉⣋⣌⣉⣿⣥⣄⣈⣉⣏⣉⣁⣉⣹⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣡⣠⣤⣥⣤⣔⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣿⣿⡟⢻⠟⠿⠿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣿⣷⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣏⣻⣿⣇⣊⣉⣁⣉⣉⣙⣉⣉⣉⣸⣉⣉⣁⣉⣀⣉⣏⣉⣉⣉⣉⣹⣉⣉⣉⣨⡉⣏⣥⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣹⣉⣇⣉⣉⣉⣏⣉⣉⣉⣉⣹⣩⣉⣏⣉⣏⡉⢙⣏⡙⣏⣉⣉⣉⣉⣩⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣍⣙⣉⣁⣉⣙⣉⣉⣍⣉⣉⣍⣉⣙⣏⣹⣈⣁⣉⣉⣁⣉⣙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣻⣿⣇⣼⣉⣈⣁⣁⣹⣈⣉⣉⣨⣉⣏⣸⣉⣉⣩⣁⣍⣉⣹⣉⣉⣻⣉⣉⣉⣩⣀⣏⣉⣉⣹⣉⣹⣈⣍⣉⣩⣉⣉⣉⣹⣩⣌⣉⣉⣉⣉⣹⣉⣏⣉⣘⣉⣉⢛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣿⣿⡿⠿⠟⠿⡟⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠻⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣾⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣶⣶⣶⣶⣷⣶⣾⣶⣶⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣉⣏⣹⣉⣉⣏⣉⣁⣉⣉⣉⣏⣉⣉⣉⣉⣹⣉⣉⣉⣭⣉⣉⣏⣉⣉⣉⣹⡉⣋⣉⡉⣹⣉⣿⣉⣉⣉⣉⣏⣉⣽⣉⣉⣙⡋⢉⣏⣉⣹⣹⣉⣝⣉⣏⣉⣹⣙⠉⣙⣉⣹⣉⣏⣉⣹⣉⣉⣉⣉⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣉⣉⣫⣹⣉⣉⣹⢉⣉⣹⣛⣹⣙⣍⣏⣩⣩⣋⣙⣉⢋⣙⡋⣋⣙⣫⣏⣋⣯⣙⣝⣫⣽⣫⣉⣛⣛⣙⡭⣋⢉⣙⣻⢉⡛⡟⡋⢉⣋⠙⢛⠉⣉⢝⡏⡻⣹⡛⡛⡟⠙⠛⡿⡏⠛⣻⠉⠛⢹⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣉⣛⣛⣛⢟⣙⣹⠛⡛⡛⠋⡛⣻⠛⠛⠛⢹⡹⢻⠉⠛⡛⢛⠛⣟⠙⠛⠛⡛⠛⠛⠋⡿⠛⡟⢛⢏⡏⠙⢻⠏⠙⢛⢻⠛⠛⡟⠙⡙⡏⢛⠋⢛⠙⡛⢻⢙⠛⢻⠙⡛⠙⠛⠋⢻⠛⠛⠛⢛⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⡟⢹⠛⠛⠛⠋⡟⠋⠹⠛⡟⢿⠉⠛⡏⠛⠛⢛⠙⡟⣋⠛⠛⠛⠛⠻⡏⡛⠙⠛⠛⢛⠛⠛⢹⠙⠟⠛⠛⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣌⣠⣵⣤⣬⣸⣤⣥⣧⣤⣦⣬⣤⣷⣤⣬⣥⣬⣦⣬⣘⣯⣥⣯⣭⣉⣨⣥⣼⣌⣥⣤⣬⣅⣇⣬⣹⣩⣫⣭⣍⣟⣋⣁⣋⣇⣧⣍⣇⣈⣹⣘⣍⣹⣍⣍⣁⣋⣉⣏⣹⣫⣉⣍⣗⣐⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣨⣉⣽⣣⣝⣐⣀⣇⣙⣉⣉⣭⣩⣈⣭⣹⣀⣭⣶⣍⣍⣩⣍⣹⣉⣭⣸⣠⣿⣜⣩⣉⣇⣩⣉⣘⣉⣁⣙⣉⣁⣇⣭⣋⣉⣀⣉⣙⣈⣙⣋⣉⣙⣄⣉⣹⣩⣋⣁⣹⣈⣹⣉⣍⣉⣁⣉⣇⣨⣉⣝⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣉⣉⣁⣸⣨⣁⣈⣉⣉⣏⣉⣈⣁⣉⣹⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⣍⣉⣁⣉⣉⣏⣱⣁⣉⣇⣢⣑⣏⣉⣋⣩⣩⣉⣹⣉⣨⣹⣉⣉⣁⣉⡉⡍⣩⣩⡋⣉⣇⣉⣭⣈⣉⣉⣏⣉⢉⣉⣙⣍⣉⣩⣉⣉⣁⣹⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣈⣹⣈⡉⡉⣉⣏⣙⣉⡉⣉⣉⣉⣹⣉⣉⣈⣉⣉⣹⣉⣩⣉⣋⣉⣉⣉⣉⡉⣏⣉⣉⣉⣉⣉⢉⣹⣉⣉⣭⣍⣉⣹⣉⣉⣹⣩⣉⣉⣉⣋⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⢿⣿⣿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣴⣦⣧⣼⣼⣬⣮⣬⣤⣤⣴⣤⣤⣤⣯⣧⣤⣷⣤⣤⣦⣤⣧⣤⣴⣿⣴⣥⣬⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠻⠛⢛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢟⡵⢟⡯⠿⣛⡽⢿⣿⠿⠿⢿⡽⣹⣛⠻⢿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣵⣾⣿⣿⣷⣾⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠙⠛⠛⡙⠛⠋⠛⠋⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣼⣤⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⡏⠋⠛⡛⠙⠛⠛⡟⢹⠉⠛⡏⣛⠙⠛⠙⢛⢉⠋⠛⠛⢟⠝⠟⠋⢙⣛⠍⠛⢛⠛⠛⣏⠋⠫⠉⣻⡏⠛⠛⢛⣛⡯⠛⠟⠛⠋⠛⣯⡝⠙⠛⠛⠛⣟⡏⢛⠙⠛⢛⠛⠛⠙⣏⠋⡏⢹⠻⠻⡟⠋⠟⠛⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⡏⢙⠹⠛⡛⠛⣟⣟⡛⠛⠛⡛⢻⣻⠉⣹⣻⠙⢛⠟⣛⠙⡛⠛⢛⠙⢏⡹⣛⠙⠉⡽⣙⡏⠛⠋⠙⣛⡏⣉⡛⠋⢻⠙⠛⠙⠛⠛⠛⡛⠛⡯⡉⢹⠍⢛⠙⠉⡏⢻⠝⠻⠛⠋⣟⣏⠛⠛⠛⠛⠉⠋⠛⠛⠛⠙⣿⣿ ⣟⣏⣙⡛⣙⣛⣛⣛⣿⣻⡉⢟⣿⡛⣟⡏⠙⠛⠛⠛⢻⡙⢉⣛⢍⡛⢛⡛⠛⢻⠉⢛⠋⢿⠙⠛⡛⠛⣟⡏⣛⡛⠛⣛⠙⢛⣋⠛⠻⠟⠙⣻⣟⡟⡹⠙⡛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1008 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/irc-log-210223/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2023/02/22/irc-log-210223/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ IRC_Proceedings:_Tuesday,_February_21,_2023⠀✐ Posted in IRC_Logs at 2:05 am by Needs Sunlight Also available via the Gemini protocol at: * gemini://gemini.techrights.org/irc-gmi/irc-log-techrights-210223.gmi * gemini://gemini.techrights.org/irc-gmi/irc-log-210223.gmi * gemini://gemini.techrights.org/irc-gmi/irc-log-social-210223.gmi * gemini://gemini.techrights.org/irc-gmi/irc-log-techbytes-210223.gmi Over HTTP: 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇H 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇HTML5_logs⦈_ #techrights_log_as_HTML5 #boycottnovell_log_as_HTML5 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇H 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇HTML5_logs⦈_ #boycottnovell-social_log_as_HTML5 #techbytes_log_as_HTML5 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇t 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇text_logs⦈_ #techrights_log_as_text #boycottnovell_log_as_text 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇t 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇text_logs⦈_ #boycottnovell-social_log_as_text #techbytes_log_as_text Enter_the_IRC_channels_now =============================================================================== § IPFS Mirrors⠀➾ CID Description Object type IRC log for  QmZw3RGBoXjUUiRVMFgJAMopb3Ty8weC7hjKrfJoWcenXQ #boycottnovell 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #boycottnovell  QmeD8Zis9PVA7GhcTVr9JMne6PSjSEQyBoEwk213aQcqUu (full IRC log 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ as plain/ASCII text) IRC log for #boycottnovell-  QmNNBXctBCGhrRyS2gMK2TTYRJ5z3vKDeJU2XzsE9QeBdF social 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #boycottnovell-  QmWnsg4AyAKBdmtYDf6YQvVSpmizEoW2CPswrYSTcn1LQC social 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ (full IRC log as plain/ASCII text) IRC log for  QmQd1xwNiXERWV8URf2riSFZy5uXGFBvQm79vYa48qCWHc #techbytes 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #techbytes  Qme2wqiGeCgQ248z1NPCqdzeiSawhUDnCPJoWsHcHKRXU5 (full IRC log 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ as plain/ASCII text) IRC log for  QmQKLECohCuiGd5BxreAXegaeRYzBBgYuk2uTFZeNBgMDp #techrights 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇HTML5 logs⦈ (full IRC log as HTML) IRC log for #techrights  QmYL2EKjo3o6jwpx3qNmWEHDZkhRYgYRvc9HxzbmG1Yf7V (full IRC log 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇text logs⦈ as plain/ASCII text) 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇IPFS logo⦈ § Bulletin for Yesterday⠀➾ Local_copy | CID (IPFS): Qmb1ifnMR1HKQVZSvpC4pPPzaFprCcVWkqqqznNJrvKGMT ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1135 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at http://techrights.org/2023/02/22/microsoft-infiltrators/#comments Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2023/02/22/microsoft-infiltrators/ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ Microsoft_Infiltrators_Still_Sabotage_Linux_(From_the_Inside)⠀✐ Posted in Deception, GNU/Linux, Microsoft at 9:15 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇Southern_California_Linux_Expo⦈_ Summary: Microsoft is ‘planting’ its staff or embedding its moles not only inside the media; today we talk about the Southern California Linux Expo and linux.com as notably recent examples THE majority of GNU/Linux users are either unaware or have become irritably nonchalant about what Microsoft is doing. Figures and organisations of authority reaffirm this bogus, phony idea that Microsoft has changed. Those figures and organisations are often paid by Microsoft to say that (or to seem apathetic about Microsoft). We’re not talking about obvious sellouts and defectors or even blatant Microsoft boosters who occupy the media. Not even ‘Miguel and Lennart’, who undermine software freedom from the inside. The everyday, casual sabotage comes in other forms. We used to write a lot more extensively about events such as FOSDEM selling out to Microsoft. It wasn’t just FOSDEM, either. Also, as a matter of fact, the latest SCALE (a “Linux” conference in Southern California) has not one but several_speakers_from_Microsoft (not counting Microsoft MVPs and ‘former’ Microsoft), including a_keynote_speaker. This is not appropriate given the company’s behaviour. Microsoft’s TPM and Pluton garbage is being pushed into Linux by the usual suspect this month/week (yes, it’s Garrett, whom Microsoft is trying to hire to work directly) and Phoronix is full of Microsoft stuff from top to bottom (in_between_the_many_advertisements). “We’re not talking about obvious sellouts and defectors or even blatant Microsoft boosters who occupy the media.”Linux is under attack from Microsofters, and moreover it’s not hard to see all that. It’s a matter of observation, so don’t believe those who call it “hate”. Many people know and can see what’s really going on. The company’s ongoing attacks on Linux are too many to exhaustively name. In the case of SCALE, it’s not exactly a new problem; Microsoft was there last_year, they_allowed_Microsoft_sponsorship_2 years_ago, Microsoft_sponsorship_3_years_ago (also Microsoft_speakers). The year beforehand they had quite a few Microsofters as speakers [1, 2, 3] in addition to money_from_Microsoft (Microsoft sponsorship goes back to 14x). It’s not just smaller event organisers; the largest organiser is implicated too. One very concerning example is the Linux_Foundation. Since 2016 it has been anti-community and pro-Microsoft, right about the same time it took money from the “Microsoft loves Linux” liars. Since then the Linux Foundation has killed linux.com. This is what happens when we let anti-Linux companies run things; and sure, they’ll pay the Foundation for it. For them, burying Linux and harming the brand is an actual objective. “Since then the Linux Foundation has killed linux.com.”Judging by this month’s posts, linux.com is effectively dead. It’s basically run by a bot now. The linux.com bot says something like “LF Platinum Member Content”; this basically means it’s running syndication in exchange for money, notably for IBM. The Foundation itself was eerily quiet this month and most of last month. If the site linux.com cannot be brought back to life, they should free up the DNS space and let someone else run such an important domain. If they’re unwilling or incapable of doing so themselves, they should pass this authoritative domain to someone who actually uses Linux. “Linux.com should hand it over to non- Microsoft community,” an associate said this morning. But linux.com is part of a broader trend here; this is what happened to “the news” in general, impacting news cycles news on the web, news sites’ ownership and so on. It seems to be an unexplored or barely-explored problem — a problem that has little to do with the “advertising industry” or ad blocking etc. “In the case of Linux conferences and sites, what we see is enemies of Linux taking control.”Recently, the subject has come up again in the US, partly because of Senator Sanders. This will worsen over time because if they fail to fund the media (no federal assistance) the nation’s oligarchs will control the narrative all across the board. Sometimes foreign oligarchs will do the same. In the case of Linux conferences and sites, what we see is enemies of Linux taking control. There’s a lot more money (salaries) in attacking GNU/Linux than in advocating/promoting it. █ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣤⣤⣤⣤⣤⣴⣶⠆⠀⠀⣰⣏⢈⡄⠀⢠⣀⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠀⢠⣴⣶⣶⣿⣿⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠀⢀⣠⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣦⣤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⣿⣿⣿⡟⠁⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣤⣶⡇⠀⠰⠶⠒⠀⠈⣿⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢀⣀⣨⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣤⡀⠈⠿⠿⠿⣿⣦⣤⣤⣤⣤⣴⣿⠀⠸⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⠀⠸⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⣸⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣀⣤⣿⣷⣄⣀⣀⣀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣿⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⣰⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⣰⣿⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢡⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇ ⠀⠀⠀⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿ ⠀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇ ⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⠀ ⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⠀⠀ ⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠈⠙⠛⠛⠛⠛⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀ ⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣄⣀⣠⣴⣶⣶⣶⣦⣤⣤⣤⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠘⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣤⣤⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1260 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ Links_22/02/2023:_Distros_Rebel_Against_Flatpak⠀✐ Posted in News_Roundup at 8:19 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GNOME bluefish⦈ § Contents⠀➾ * GNU/Linux o Instructionals/Technical o Games * Distributions_and_Operating_Systems o BSD o SUSE/OpenSUSE o Fedora_Family_/_IBM o Canonical/Ubuntu_Family o Open_Hardware/Modding o Mobile_Systems/Mobile_Applications * Free,_Libre,_and_Open_Source_Software o Web_Browsers/Web_Servers # Mozilla o Education o Programming/Development # Shell/Bash/Zsh/Ksh * Leftovers o Science o Education o Health/Nutrition/Agriculture o Proprietary o Security # Privacy/Surveillance o Defence/Aggression o Transparency/Investigative_Reporting o Environment # Energy/Transportation # Wildlife/Nature o Finance o AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics o Censorship/Free_Speech o Freedom_of_Information_/_Freedom_of_the_Press o Civil_Rights/Policing o Monopolies * § GNU/Linux⠀➾ o § Instructionals/Technical⠀➾ # ⚓ Jan Piet Mens ☛ Notes_to_self:_Ansible,_SSH,_and_a password⠀⇛ Using a pipe lookup, the password can be read directly from a password manager API program which emits a single-line password to stdout. Not super elegant, but workable to the point of being usable directly in an inventory file, and the variable is not visible in the play. # ⚓ University of Toronto ☛ Grafana_Loki_doesn’t_compact_log chunks_and_what_this_means_for_you⠀⇛ Many of these streams of log messages are low volume and infrequent because some parts of their labels are uncommon. Some systemd units only emit a few messages a day; systems may not log kernel messages for weeks; ‘warning’ level syslog messages (especially for specific units) are uncommon, and so on. Certainly you’ll have some frequent, high volume log streams, but you’ll also have many that only emit at most a few messages a day. These low volume streams are where your problems are in a default Loki configuration. # ⚓ Terence Eden ☛ How_to_password_protect_a_static_HTML_page with_no_JS⠀⇛ I recently saw Robin Moisson’s method of password protecting a statically served HTML page. It’s quite neat! But it does rely on JavaScript. That got me wondering if there was a way to encrypt a static page only using CSS? And… I think I’ve done it! I’ll warn you now, this is a deeply stupid way to solve the problem. # ⚓ Felix Crux ☛ How_I_organize_my_digital_music_collection⠀⇛ Unfortunately, the hard drive space required to store my collection in a lossless format was far out of reach for me at the time, so I resigned myself to keeping everything as lossy low-bitrate MP3s. Later, a new free/open-source and patent- unencumbered format called Ogg Vorbis turned up on the scene, and my enthusiasm for it overpowered my horror at re-encoding from one lossy format to another, so I gritted my teeth at the quality degradation and converted everything. Now in the present, Vorbis has been surpassed by Opus, FLAC exists, hard drives are cheap, and it’s time to start over. My objective is to end up with a high-quality lossless “archival” version of all my physical and digital album purchases on my home storage server, comprehensively tagged with a full set of accurate metadata. Along with that, I want at least two sets of derived Ogg Opus re-encodings with differing levels of compression/quality: a lower-quality one for keeping on my cellphone, and a better one for desktop and laptop personal computer use. # ⚓ Linux Handbook ☛ Use_Rocky_Linux_ISO_as_a_Local Repository⠀⇛ There are various cases when you may want to utilize the local repository such as on a temporary basis, the internet connection is not allowed and you want to install a specific package. o § Games⠀➾ # ⚓ GamingOnLinux ☛ 1980s_mystery_adventure_Unusual_Findings added_Linux_support⠀⇛ Here’s one from late last year that I missed, 1980s mystery adventure Unusual Findings gained a Native Linux version. The new support was announced for Linux and macOS back in November 2022 where the developer mentioned they “worked day and night to polish and release versions of Unusual Findings for macOS and Linux”. # ⚓ GamingOnLinux ☛ Read_Only_Memories:_NEURODIVER_new_trailer and_release_window_announced⠀⇛ Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER, a cyberpunk point and click adventure from developer MidBoss, LLC. has a new trailer and it’s releasing this Summer. A sequel to 2064: Read Only Memories, which they said had more than 2.35 million downloads. # ⚓ GamingOnLinux ☛ Steam_Mystery_Fest_live_until_February 27th⠀⇛ Another good chance to discover some new games is the Steam Mystery Fest, live now until February 27th with lots of discounts. # ⚓ GamingOnLinux ☛ Environmental_strategy_game_Terra_Nil releases_March_28th⠀⇛ A game idea I absolutely love and the early demos were impressive, the environmental strategy game Terra Nil releases on March 28th. In this game you’re transforming a ruined wasteland, to bring it back to life and get it green. Purify the soil, clean up the oceans, get rivers flowing, plant some trees and make it right. # ⚓ GamingOnLinux ☛ Wreckfest_is_a_smashing_good_time_on_Steam Deck⠀⇛ Got the need for speed? You should check out Wreckfest! It’s a lot of fun and it works amazingly well on Steam Deck. * § Distributions and Operating Systems⠀➾ o § BSD⠀➾ # ⚓ Dan Langille ☛ Transferring_a_jail_from_one_host_to another⠀⇛ In this post, I’ll be copying over a lot of data while the jails are running. This is to get the bulk of the data over and in place. Later, when moving each jail individually, I will stop the jail, run another syncoid, then start the new jail. That second sync of the data will catch any changes since the initial copy. # ⚓ Undeadly ☛ Theo_de_Raadt_on_pinsyscall(2)⠀⇛ Theo de Raadt (deraadt@) posted to tech@ a message entitled pinsyscall, execve, and rop pivots, etc. It explains pinsyscall(2), OpenBSD’s latest security innovation. We reproduce the posting below with added links: [...] o § SUSE/OpenSUSE⠀➾ # ⚓ OMG! Linux ☛ openSUSE_Leap_15.5_Beta_Available_to Download⠀⇛ opeSUSE Leap 15.5 is due to be released on June 7, 2023 and will be the final release in the Leap 15 series, which made its debut back in May of 2018. But before that stable release can arrive there’s a beta build for folks to tussle with. # ⚓ Ubuntu Pit ☛ openSUSE_Leap_15.5_Reaches_Beta_Phase_for Testing⠀⇛ Exciting news! Luboš Kocman, the release manager for openSUSE Leap, will soon make an announcement about the Beta phase of Leap 15.5. It is already syncing on mirrors worldwide so that users can download and experience it firsthand. By testing the beta versions, users can uncover any bugs prior to its official launch date of June 1st, according to the openSUSE Leap Release Cycle roadmap. This is a chance given to users to get a jump start on identifying potential issues before everyone else! This version of the distribution will present some upgraded versions, although this release is not a feature-rich upgrade. o § Fedora Family / IBM⠀➾ # ⚓ DebugPoint ☛ Fedora_38:_Overview_of_Its_Features_and Enhancements⠀⇛ Fedora (backed/financed by RedHat) has recently become popular for many Linux users. Usually, Ubuntu and Fedora are the two main “go-to” distributions for any workload. Due to several Ubuntu policies in the recent past and “over- friendliness” with Microsoft, a good number of long-term Linux users started adopting Fedora workstations for their desktops. In addition, Fedora is backed by Red Hat, a leading open-source company, and it always pioneers adopting new technologies before any mainstream Linux distributions. Last year, Fedora was the first distro to offer the modern Wayland, Pipewire as default in its workstation flavour and a few performance-related improvements such as out-of- memory handling (OOM). All of these are eventually adopted by others later on. The upcoming release – Fedora 38, also plans for some interesting new features and improvements, which make it an attractive option for developers, Linux users and system administrators. # ⚓ Red Hat Official ☛ The_State_of_Customer_and_Partner Experience_at_Red_Hat_2022:_How_your_feedback_improves_your experience⠀⇛ Each year, Red Hat works to improve our products, services and the overall customer and partner experience based on the feedback that we receive. This past year was no different, and we not only drove enhancements and improvements across the company based on that feedback, we also worked to improve the way we listened to our customers and partners. This blog post is part one of our three-part annual State of Customer and Partner Experience summary. Here, we will recap how the Customer and Partner Experience (CPX) team listened to customers and partners in the past year and how we worked with teams across Red Hat to act on the feedback we received.  o § Canonical/Ubuntu Family⠀➾ # ⚓ OMG Ubuntu ☛ Ubuntu_Flavors_Agree_to_Stop_Using_Flatpak⠀⇛ In a surprise move, Ubuntu developers have agreed to stop shipping Flatpak, preinstalled Flatpak apps, and any plugins needed to install Flatpak apps through a GUI software tool in the default package across all eight of Ubuntu’s official flavors, starting with the upcoming Ubuntu 23.04 release. Ubuntu says the decision will ‘improve the out-of- the-box Ubuntu experience’ for new users by making it clearer about what the “Ubuntu experience” is. o § Open Hardware/Modding⠀➾ # ⚓ Monitoring_an_Aquarium_with_InfluxDB_and_Grafana⠀⇛ I’ve been setting up a new tropical fish tank and wanted to add some monitoring and alerting because, well, why not? # ⚓ Bob Alexander ☛ Converting_KiCad_Schematics_to_Verilog⠀⇛ I wrote a KiCad plugin to generate Verilog code from a schematic. # ⚓ Adafruit ☛ How_to_detect_the_difference_between_a_Pico_and a_Pico_W_#RaspberryPiPico_#RaspberryPi_@Raspberry_pi⠀⇛ Hardware-wise, both boards are nearly identical. But there are a couple subtle differences. And the onboard LED is connected differently. # ⚓ Arduino ☛ This_little_robot_helps_fight_fires⠀⇛ This robot, which is a mid-sized rover, can operate via manual control or in an autonomous mode. In both cases, its job is to explore buildings, either during a fire or after a disaster, to map the interior and find hazards. Its camera system allows for visual detection, but it also has a host of integrated sensors for detecting elevated temperatures, gas pockets, and more. With that information, firefighters can then enter the building and rescue anyone trapped inside while avoiding hazardous areas or bringing the equipment necessary to deal with them. # ⚓ Jeff Geerling ☛ Testing_Raspberry_Pi’s_new_Debug_Probe⠀⇛ The Debug Probe is powered by an RP2040, and lets you connect from USB to UART (serial) or SWD (Serial Wire Debug), perfect for debugging most embedded devices. UART is useful to connect to a device’s console when you don’t have a display or other means of controlling it, and you can find UART/serial/ console ports on almost any device with a processor or microcontroller. # ⚓ Raspberry Pi ☛ Raspberry_Pi_Debug_Probe⠀⇛ The Raspberry Pi Debug Probe is a kit comprising the Debug Probe hardware in its own plastic case together with a USB cable and three types of debug cable, covering the vast majority of debug use cases. It is designed to make it easy to debug and program Raspberry Pi Pico and RP2040 with a range of host platforms including Windows, Mac, and typical Linux computers, where you don’t have a GPIO header to connect directly to the Pico’s serial UART or SWD port. While designed for use with Raspberry Pi products, the Debug Probe provides standard UART and CMSIS- DAP interfaces over USB, so it can also be used to debug any Arm-based microcontroller that provides an SWD port with 3V3 I/O, or even just as a USB-to- UART cable. It works with OpenOCD and other tools that support CMSIS-DAP. # ⚓ Purism ☛ Developing_for_Mobile_Linux_with_Phosh_–_Part_0: Running_Nested⠀⇛ Mobile Linux is gaining in popularity. What is a simple way to develop for it? This upcoming series of posts will help with that using Phosh and related technologies. We’ll start out really simple and move into more complicated topics step by step. For many bits you won’t even need to modify your phone (or even need to have one). A desktop or laptop running Linux with a graphical Wayland session is sufficient. # ⚓ Raspberry Pi ☛ How_to_build_a_super-slim_smart⠀⇛ While a smart mirror isn’t exactly a beginner- friendly build, it is a bit of a rite of passage for makers. Being able to put together and code a smart mirror suggests that your skills have reached a certain level, and ending up with something big and impressive like this at the end of the process underlines your achievement. It’s also something you can look at and use every day — a satisfying reminder of your accomplishment. # ⚓ Ken Shirriff ☛ Reverse-engineering_the_interrupt_circuitry in_the_Intel_8086_processor⠀⇛ I’ve been reverse-engineering the 8086 starting with the silicon die. The die photo below shows the chip under a microscope. The metal layer on top of the chip is visible, with the silicon and polysilicon mostly hidden underneath. Around the edges of the die, bond wires connect pads to the chip’s 40 external pins; relevant pins are marked in yellow. I’ve labeled the key functional blocks; the ones that are important to this discussion are darker and will be discussed in detail below. Architecturally, the chip is partitioned into a Bus Interface Unit (BIU) at the top and an Execution Unit (EU) below. The BIU handles bus activity, while the Execution Unit (EU) executes instructions and microcode. Both parts are extensively involved in interrupt handling. o § Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ Gadgets Now ☛ How_to_use_split_screen_feature_on_Android⠀⇛ # ⚓ Gmail_users_unable_to_sync_Hotmail_or_Outlook_account_on Android⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android Headlines ☛ Android_12_is_finally_rolling_out_to_T- Mobile_OnePlus_7T_units⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android Police ☛ Some_of_2022′s_best_gaming_phones_are finally_getting_Android_13⠀⇛ # ⚓ India Times ☛ Oppo_Pad_Air_tablet_starts_receiving_Android 13_update_–_Times_of_India⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android_Auto_9.0_Beta_is_Now_Available:_Here’s_How_to Download_It⠀⇛ # ⚓ CNX Software ☛ STMicro_adds_more_STM32U5_Cortex-M33_MCUs with_NeoChrom_2.5D_GPU,_128KB_to_4MB_flash,_NIST certification,_etc…_–_CNX_Software⠀⇛ * § Free, Libre, and Open Source Software⠀➾ o § Web Browsers/Web Servers⠀➾ # § Mozilla⠀➾ # ⚓ Mozilla ☛ How_to_use_Pocket_with_Tunde_Oyeneyin⠀⇛ Fitness instructor Tunde Oyeneyin, a favorite among Peloton riders, makes it a habit to stay intentional of what she consumes online.  o § Education⠀➾ # ⚓ Fernando Borretti ☛ Building_a_DIY_Clozemaster⠀⇛ A friend introduced me to Clozemaster, which is a very simple concept: you get two sentences, one in English, another in French, and one of the words is a Cloze deletion. You have to figure out what goes in the blank. You’re testing vocabulary, grammar, and, since the blank can appear in either sentence, you’re testing in both directions. But Clozemaster has an absolutely demonic UX: the font is this ridiculous, unserious, 8 bit font literally from Super Mario Bros.; pasted over some tired Bootstrap theme. And the free version is limited to 30 sentences a day. So I looked for ways to build my own language learning flashcards for use with Mochi. I found some French frequency lists, and thought to use that to learn vocabulary, but vocabulary alone is not useful. Then I found a list of English-French sentence pairs, ranked by frequency; but the corpus is OpenSubtitles, so the vocabulary is very skewed to movie dialogue. And then I found Tatoeba: an open-source database of sentences and their translations. The rest of this post is a walkthrough of the Python code I wrote to generate Cloze flashcards from Tatoeba sentence pairs. # ⚓ Rlang ☛ Shiny_in_Production_2023:_Workshops⠀⇛ Shiny in Production is returning to the Catalyst this October! Our workshop lineup has now been finalised, and our first two speakers are confirmed. If you want to read more about the speakers, or register for the conference, head over to the website. Early bird tickets are now on sale! For the workshops this year, we see the return of the extremely popular Introduction to Posit (formerly RStudio) Connect, as well as a two new shiny-centered topics. o § Programming/Development⠀➾ # ⚓ [Old] Sigfrid Lundberg ☛ Sex,_death_and_sonnets:_Musings_of a_software_developer⠀⇛ If there are any sonnets, do they rhyme and what are they about? I have since many years been a great fan of the tutorial Unix™ for Poets by Kenneth Ward Church. This note is an investigation of what can be done with a corpus of literary text with very simple tools similar to the ones described by Church in his tutorial. I do not claim that there is anything novel or even significant in this text. Being a scientist, I think like a scientist and don’t expect any deep literary theory here. # ⚓ [Old] uni Stanford ☛ Unix_for_Poets [PDF]⠀⇛ What can we do with it all? • It is better to do something simple, than nothing at all. • You can do the simple things yourself (DIY is more satisfying than begging for ‘‘help’’ from a computer officer.) # ⚓ Matt Rickard ☛ Why_DSLs_Fail⠀⇛ Domain-specific languages seem like an attractive solution when templating becomes too cumbersome for a set of problems. The proposition: fit the programming model space to the problem space. Just enough control flow, macros, and functions to solve a specific set of problems (infrastructure configuration, build systems, scripting, etc.) # ⚓ OpenSource.com ☛ Mapping_the_program_counter_back_to_the function_name_in_your_code⠀⇛ Compilers are commonly used to convert human- readable source code into a series of instructions that are directly executed by the computer. A common question is “How do the debuggers and error handlers report the place in the source code where the processor is currently at?” There are various methods to map instructions back to locations in the source code. With the compiler optimizing the code, there are also some complications in mapping the instructions back to the source code. This first article in the series describes how tools map the program counter (also known as the instruction pointer) back to the function name. Subsequent articles in this series will cover mapping the program counter back to the specific line in a source file. It also provides a backtrace describing the series of calls that resulted in the processor being in the current function. # ⚓ OpenSource.com ☛ How_I_do_automated_accessibility_testing for_my_website⠀⇛ This article covers adding accessibility tests to your site using Pa11y (pa11y-ci with axe) and Cypress (with cypress-axe) in GitLab CI/CD. I use a Jekyll website as an example, but any website technology that runs in CI/CD can leverage this setup. # § Shell/Bash/Zsh/Ksh⠀➾ # ⚓ [Old] Nick Holland ☛ Shell_Scripting_Tips_ (revisited)⠀⇛ Targeted at ksh, but much is applicable to bash & sh * § Leftovers⠀➾ o ⚓ NDTV ☛ Supreme_Court_Tests_Live_Transcription_Of_Its_Hearings_–_A First⠀⇛ This will be on an experimental basis for a day or two to iron out creases in transcription before becoming a norm. During the hearing, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud explained the new experiment to the lawyers and said, “it will help especially those in law schools to know how the case was argued”. o ⚓ The Conversation ☛ Five_emerging_trends_that_could_change_our lives_online⠀⇛ The way we live our lives online is rapidly changing. Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality and innovations such as blockchain – a kind of digital record for transactions — are set to transform the online world, affecting everything from social media to how people and businesses make money from their creativity. If you’re feeling confused by the pace of change, here’s what you need to know about five trends on the cusp of making a major impact. o ⚓ [Old] Explained from First Principles ☛ The_Internet⠀⇛ Let’s get right into it: What is a protocol? o § Science⠀➾ # ⚓ Mark Dominus ☛ Construing_cube_faces_as_pairs_of_something or_other⠀⇛ I provided a different approach, and OP declared themselves satisfied, but I kept thinking about it. My approach did provide a combinatorial description of the cube that related its various parts to the square’s corresponding parts. But it didn’t produce the requested map from pairs of objects (the !!\binom 42!! part) to the six faces. o § Education⠀➾ # ⚓ Terence Eden ☛ Page_numbers_aren’t_the_answer⠀⇛ Firstly, page numbers aren’t stable. If you’ve got the large-print version of a paper, it will have a different page numbers than the regular print edition. Paperbacks and hardbacks have different numbers. The paper copy might be formatted differently from the digital copy. Secondly, most modern documents simply don’t have pages. Anything published as HTML / ePub won’t have a page number. Page numbers are a skeuomorph in those contexts. o § Health/Nutrition/Agriculture⠀➾ # ⚓ [Old] Johan Halse ☛ The_Devil’s_glass⠀⇛ Being into video games today, though, in the year of our lord 2023? It entails clicking a colorful icon and then having soulless A/B-tested dopamine shot directly into your fucking eyeballs by billionaire warlords and their minions. Your time with these monstrosities is wasted rather than spent. I still play video games ‒ my drug of choice is Rocket League, where I’ve racked up 500 hours since 2016 (ranked Diamond 2, by the way, and pretty happy with that) which works out to about an hour and a half each week. That’s a healthy amount, I think. # ⚓ Arduino ☛ This_original_video_game_console_features_a_VFD⠀⇛ VFDs (vacuum fluorescent displays) were common a few decades ago and have a nice, distinct glow that many find appealing. But like Nixie tubes and CRTs, VFDs have are outdated and almost obsolete at this point. They can’t come close to matching the price or functionality of modern LCD and OLED screens, but they still have a lot of charm. Simon Boak harnessed that charm when he built this custom video game console that features a VFD. # ⚓ Eesti Rahvusringhääling ☛ Research:_New_smart_ring_detects whether_a_drink_has_been_spiked⠀⇛ Drink spiking means that sedatives (mostly GHB drugs) are secretly added to the drinker’s beverage without their knowledge. The resulting mixture is also known as the rape drug, as it is easy to take advantage of the sedated person. Researchers at the University of Tartu have created a smart ring that could aid in safeguarding against such threats. # ⚓ FAIR ☛ ‘Punitive_Enforcement_Does_Not_Save_Lives,_or_Reduce Drug_Supply’⠀⇛ Janine Jackson interviewed Drug Policy Alliance’s Maritza Perez Medina about fentanyl for the February 17, 2023, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. o § Proprietary⠀➾ # ⚓ Security Week ☛ HardBit_Ransomware_Offers_to_Set_Ransom Based_on_Victim’s_Cyberinsurance⠀⇛ The ransom note dropped on compromised systems does not specify how much the victim has to pay to recover its files. Instead, the targeted company is instructed to contact the hackers through email or the Tox instant messaging platform. However, the note does contain some important information about paying the ransom, specifically for victims that have a cyberinsurance policy covering ransomware attacks. # ⚓ IT Wire ☛ 2022_a_breakthrough_year_in_the_development_of malware_targeting_critical_infrastructure:_Report [iophk: Windows TCO]⠀⇛ As in previous years, the ICS/OT community have managed a growing number of vulnerabilities, many without the right mitigations needed to reduce risk and maintain operations. Meanwhile electric grids, oil and gas pipelines, water systems, and manufacturing plants continued to struggle with more complex regulatory environments that demand marked progress in shoring up defences. The sixth edition of Dragos’s report, which provides an ‘on-the-ground’ understanding of what is happening in the industrial space contains the latest threat intelligence on adversary activity targeting operational technology (OT) and recent ICS-specific malware discoveries, data to inform vulnerability management practices, and cybersecurity benchmarks for industries. # ⚓ Wentin ☛ Don’t_Sell_Your_Indie_Business_to_Digital_Ocean!⠀⇛ The sad part of the story is that most of what happened can’t be traced easily. Domain redirect can be set up with a few clicks of a button, and soon enough, most people forget these indie blogs ever existed and what happened to them. I want to write down what I saw so that there is a record of what Digital Ocean has done or has not done. [...] What triggers me to write down these words above as “record” is that Digital Ocean bought CSS Tricks — another beloved tech blog — about a year ago, and recently they laid off the only editor of CSS Tricks. It is entirely possible that one day we will lose access to CSS Tricks content like “A Complete Guide to Flexbox” — a front-end “staple food,” a link that always shows up in purple in search results; and instead, we get to enjoy losing 3 seconds of our life being redirected and then bounce. o § Security⠀➾ # § Privacy/Surveillance⠀➾ # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ A_DNA_Testing_Company_Forgot_About_2.1 Million_People’s_Data._Then_It_Leaked.⠀⇛ The Register reports that the stolen data was part of a “legacy database” that DDC had amassed years ago and then apparently forgot that it had. In 2012, DDC had purchased another forensics firm, Orchid Cellmark, accumulating the firm’s databases along with the sale. DDC has subsequently claimed that it was unaware that the data was even in its systems, alleging that a prior inventory of its digital vaults turned up no sign of the information of millions of people that was later boosted by the hacker. Not long after news of the data breach emerged, Ohio and Pennsylvania sued the company. # ⚓ NL Times ☛ Dutch_gov’t_ordered_to_stop_collecting, processing_plane_passengers’_data⠀⇛ The Ministry of Justice and Security must immediately stop the large-scale collection and processing of airline passenger travel details, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) said on Tuesday. The data is meant to gain insight into terrorists and criminals’ movements, but the Ministry collects, processes, and stores all airline passengers’ data. “This is not permitted and must stop,” the AP said. # ⚓ IT Wire ☛ Nokia_and_Bosch_team_up_to_develop_5G precision_positioning_technology⠀⇛ The two companies say they have deployed the proof of concept in a Bosch production plant in Germany, where extensive tests under realistic manufacturing conditions have shown “an accuracy within 50 cm in 90 percent of the factory footprint”. o § Defence/Aggression⠀➾ # ⚓ AlerNet ☛ Cognitive_neuroscientist_explains_why_stupidity is_an_existential_threat_to_America⠀⇛ It is less surprising that politicians who regularly exhibit the Dunning-Kruger effect are being elected to office when one realizes that they are being voted in by people who also display the Dunning-Kruger effect. A 2008 study by the political scientist Ian Anson surveyed over 2000 Americans in an attempt to see whether or not the effect was playing a role in one’s ability to overestimate their political knowledge. The results clearly showed that the people who scored lowest on political knowledge were the very same people who were the most likely to overestimate their performance. While this is shocking, it also makes perfect sense: the less we know about something, the less of an ability we have to assess how much we don’t know. It is only when we try to become an expert on some complex topic that we truly realize how complicated it is, and how much more there is to learn about it. # ⚓ Scheerpost ☛ Murdoch_Propaganda_Readies_Australia_for_War With_China⠀⇛ Anyone who’s paying attention knows the behavior of the U.S. war machine is as relevant to Australians as it is to Americans, writes Caitlin Johnstone. # ⚓ Scheerpost ☛ Biden_Makes_Surprise_Visit_to_Ukraine⠀⇛ The president says the purpose of the trip was to reaffirm ‘unwavering and unflagging’ support for Ukraine. # ⚓ Scheerpost ☛ Patrick_Lawrence:_Totalized_Censorship⠀⇛ Content warning, canceling, de-platforming, denying access: The fate of Sy Hersh’s Democracy Now! interview on YouTube is the latest indication of how much rougher press suppression is in this new media era. # ⚓ The Dissenter ☛ March_To_War_In_Iraq,_20_Years_Later: February_21,_2003⠀⇛ # ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ If_You_Don’t_Like_Rules:_Y’all’s_Racism_Is Showing⠀⇛ On the anniversary of the murder of Malcolm X – “Culture is an indispensable weapon (to) forge the future with the past” – we salute Rep. Justin Pearson, a young black man who wore a dashiki – “This dress is resistance” – to mark his first fiery day as Tennessee’s newest lawmaker. America on a GOP, stubbornly stuck on the wrong side of history, freaking out that Pearson failed to follow (fictional) “rules” of decorum: “Masters’ boys still thinking they in charge of events.” o § Transparency/Investigative Reporting⠀➾ # ⚓ Omicron Limited ☛ ‘Transparency_for_thee,_not_for_me’: Study_shows_SEC_mounting_secrecy_about_whistleblower program⠀⇛ The whistleblower program encourages people to share information about financial malfeasance with the SEC by offering monetary payments for tips that lead to successful SEC enforcement actions. The program has recently come under fire for its excessive secrecy, which some fear has tilted the playing field in favor of well-connected repeat players. Last summer, one member of the commission cited Platt’s earlier study of the program in a speech calling for increasing transparency surrounding the program. But rather than expanding transparency, the SEC has done precisely the opposite, according to Platt. As he shows in his new study, which was featured on the Columbia Law School Blue Sky Blog, the SEC’s Fiscal Year 2022 report on the whistleblower program omitted a wide range of significant information that had been included in every prior annual report. # ⚓ BBC ☛ Spain_officials_quit_over_trains_that_were_too_wide for_tunnels⠀⇛ Two top Spanish transport officials have resigned over a botched order for new commuter trains that cost nearly €260m ($275m; £230m). The trains could not fit into non-standard tunnels in the northern regions of Asturias and Cantabria. # ⚓ Deutsche Welle ☛ Spain_train_chief_quits_over_order_of_too wide_trains⠀⇛ The resignations of Isaias Taboas, who has headed Renfe since June 2018, and Isabel Pardo brings the total number of people to lose their jobs over the scandal to four. The resignations were announced shortly before the Minister of Transport, Raquel Sanchez, met on Monday with the presidents of the northern regions of Asturias and Cantabria to explain how the errors in the measurements occurred. The error will cause a delay in the manufacturing process of two years. # ⚓ Techdirt ☛ US_Military_Continues_To_Violate_The_Law_By Limiting_Access_To_Court_Records⠀⇛ Court transparency and equitable access to court documents are ongoing struggles. The federal court system’s malicious compliance with congressional directives has given us exorbitant fees and a clunky, counterintuitive platform for online access to court documents. # ⚓ Project Censored ☛ From_Russiagate_with_Love:_Corporate Media_Spin_and_Revisionist_Reporting_on_Russia’s_Alleged Meddling_in_the_2016_Election_Continue_–_Censored_Notebook⠀⇛ A January 2023 publication from the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) spawned the latest round of spin and shifting baselines from Russiagate apologists. Russiagate refers to the claims that Russia meddled in and influenced the outcome of the U.S. election in 2016, had direct connections to Donald Trump and his associates, and worked to help defeat Hillary Clinton for the presidency. A recent article from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, written by investigative reporter Jeff Gerth, utilized exiting media reports, and “dozens of people at the center of the story—editors and reporters, Trump himself, and others in his orbit,” to conclude that the legacy news media inaccurately covered the connection between Russia and Donald J. Trump during his Presidency. While this may be news to some diehard Democrats and their allies in the “liberal” press, the media’s reporting failures on the matter were not missed by all. o § Environment⠀➾ # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ The_Train_Derailment_in_Ohio_Was_a_Disaster Waiting_to_Happen⠀⇛ When crews are stretched thin, Mikulka said, accidents and derailments are just waiting to happen. He said calls from workers for increased safety measures have gone unheard. “There are so many different points in this process where we look at how we can make it safer, and the rail company says ‘Yeah, but we don’t want to pay for that.’” At a press conference last week Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said the train that went through East Palestine was not marked as hazardous, despite the chemicals on board. He called it “absurd” and is asking Congress to investigate how hazardous materials are handled. # § Energy/Transportation⠀➾ # ⚓ Truthdig ☛ [Cryptocurrency]_Mining_Regulation_in_the Pacific_Northwest⠀⇛ In a county of just over 100,000 residents, sitting directly below the Grand Coulee Dam, 13 [cryptocurrency] mining operations—think warehouses stacked with networked computers continuously working on complex math equations to earn bitcoin—might seem like a lot. But the combined 27 megawatts of electricity those miners use today comprise only a fraction of the requests the Grant County Public Utility District has fielded since 2017, when bitcoin surged in value to nearly $20,000. # ⚓ Spiegel ☛ “Russia_Is_Good_at_Cheating”⠀⇛ Vlasiuk: Never believe a word of what Russian authorities are saying. They stopped publishing many statistics that were published before – for good reasons. Russia is struggling to get hold of fresh money and is running a record-high deficit. Lots of Russia’s assets are frozen, less and less technology is available. The European Union’s ban on Russian oil products alone has cost the Russian economy a market of 30 to 40 billion euros. At the end of 2022, Russia was forced to impose an additional 600 billion rubles in new taxes on the biggest companies, including Gazprom. Russia now spends 20 percent less on drugs for hospitals. Expenditures for road construction were cut in half. They are losing whole industries – their car industry, for example. So, it would be absurd to assume that the sanctions don’t have a significant impact. They do, only Russia is trying to hide it, by lying with their statistics. # § Wildlife/Nature⠀➾ # ⚓ The Revelator ☛ Ecocide_in_Ukraine⠀⇛ o § Finance⠀➾ # ⚓ MWL ☛ Comparing_Kickstarters⠀⇛ I intended to use the Devotion and Corrosion campaign to compare “Kickstarter with Twitter” to “Kickstarter without Twitter.” That seemed sensible, right? The videos are comparable, the campaigns are comparable. The story for the orcs is stronger, because “Orcs in Prohibition” is a solid hook, but still, it’d do something, right? # ⚓ Pro Publica ☛ Getting_Settlement_Money_to_Former_Kushner Tenants_May_Prove_Difficult⠀⇛ A decade ago, Jasmine Cox was living with her young son in the Cove Village rental complex in Essex, Maryland, just east of Baltimore, when she started experiencing a plague of problems. The bedroom ceiling started leaking one day, then maggots started coming out of the living room carpet, and then raw sewage started flowing out of the kitchen sink, she said. She stopped cooking to keep food away from the sink. With so much black mold around, her son started needing an inhaler. When she moved out soon afterward, the landlord, Westminster Management, sent her a $600 invoice for a new carpet and other repairs. The experience haunted her for years. So she was hit with a welter of emotions when she recently received a letter at her new home from the Maryland attorney general, alerting her that she could apply for restitution from Westminster, the property management arm of Kushner Companies, the family real estate company of Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a former senior adviser to the president. She has started going through old SD cards and photo-storage apps to find pictures of the apartment woes to submit with the claims form that accompanied the letter. “We were living in a biohazard,” she said. “I’m just glad something has come about to compensate people, to clear things up.” # ⚓ Scheerpost ☛ Investigation_Shows_Rail_Giant_Donated_to_Ohio Governor_a_Month_Before_Toxic_Crash⠀⇛ If Norfolk Southern “can pay for lobbyists and politicians, they can pay to clean up the mess they made in our community,” said one local group. # ⚓ Scheerpost ☛ Ralph_Nader:_Letter_to_Tim_Cook,_Other_Ultra- Rich_CEOs_and_Hedge_Fund_Titans⠀⇛ The victims of the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria need your help now. The surviving families and children and those rescued alive from the rubble are in serious danger in affected wintertime impoverished regions. Refugees in other places fleeing their war-torn homelands are also suffering. # ⚓ FAIR ☛ Distortion_of_Breakfast_Price_Hikes_Leaves_WSJ_With Egg_on_Face⠀⇛ The Wall Street Journal (2/14/23) gave a crash course on the true meaning of freedom under capitalism with its piece “To Save Money, Maybe You Should Skip Breakfast.” Ironically, the article sat behind a paywall. So instead of skipping breakfast to cut costs, maybe Journal readers should cancel their subscriptions. # ⚓ The Nation ☛ Can_New_York_Make_Deadbeat_Dolan_Stop Freeloading_at_Madison_Square_Garden?⠀⇛ Out of all the preening, egomaniacal billionaires in New York, James Dolan may be unmatched. The owner of the famed Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks, and the New York Rangers, Dolan has long been a uniquely powerful figure in America’s largest city, a mogul who always seems to get his way. Of late, he’s been in the news for wielding facial recognition technology to wantonly ban from his properties anyone who offends him. Attorneys who work at firms engaged with litigation against Dolan’s company have found themselves turned away from Knicks games and shows at Radio City. # ⚓ DaemonFC (Ryan Farmer) ☛ Walmart’s_Statement_on_Inflation Undermines_Biden_Narrative_As_Many_Americans_Flee_The Country._(Government_Stops_Reporting_Numbers.) ⠀⇛ American consumers would have to go back to the 1970s to find something worse than what is unfolding now. The cause, of course, is endless government money printing to prop up the stock market and keep mortgages impossibly cheap, while they invade and run the rest of the world. They don’t have to print as much money to do this, but it’s easier to inflict an inflation tax on Americans than to demand that people like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Tim Cook, and Elon Musk pay more while they’re playing “See who can die with the most hundreds of billions of dollars.” In a ludicrous display of toxic masculinity gone wrong, Musk marched into Twitter in November, promising to turn things around, and the company is still hemorrhaging cash despite losing over 85% of its employees. They just had another layoff last Friday, which went mostly unreported. But while Elon Musk is busy losing his fortune and trying to get a consolation prize of using a reverse shadow ban to multiply the number of people who see his tweets by 1,000, most Americans are facing a 9% increase in the price of cat food since last month. I’m certainly glad I got a “cat food mountain” back when they had rebates on it. I still grab a bag now and then when there’s a rebate and stick it in the pile, sorted by the date of expiration. o § AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics⠀➾ # ⚓ The Hill ☛ Pentagon_warning_US_military_to_avoid_poppy seeds,_citing_effects_on_drug_testing⠀⇛ According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, poppy seeds can absorb opium extract when being harvested. This can then sometimes cause morphine and codeine — which are pain relief drugs in the opioid family — to be detected in urine up to 48 hours after poppy seeds are ingested, which can then cause false positives in drug testing. # ⚓ BW Businessworld Media Pvt Ltd ☛ Twitter_May_Open_Source Its_Algorithm_Next_Week⠀⇛ In a subsequent tweet, Musk said people could find the algorithm disappointing when it’s made open source next week but emphasised that it would improve. # ⚓ India Times ☛ Tamil_Nadu_to_revisit_policy_on_cyber security:_IT_Minister⠀⇛ The Tamil Nadu Information Technology Department was working in upgrading its policy on cyber security and was holding discussions with various stake-holders in this connection, Minister T Mano Thangaraj said here on Tuesday. The Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services appealed to the industry experts to ensure adoption of technology by various government departments. # ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ Discovery_of_Lithium_Reserve_in_Kashmir: New_Complications_in_resolution_of_disputed_land⠀⇛ This has increased the importance of Kashmir for India which can be understood as statement; that lower Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir need to be properly explored, according to Jugal Kishore Sharma, a senior Democratic Azad Party (DAP) politician and former minister. The growing concern would be India will speed up her approach towards Kashmir by increasing military troops , more will intensify its plans to change the demographic composition of Jammu and Kashmir and convert the Muslim majority into a minority and also will swiftly work on merging Kashmir in India as own state. And will create lobby to zero flex over issue on international forums. This can also can be understood that the Geology & Mining Department of Jammu and Kashmir is now putting two significant mineral blocks of limestone up for e-auction in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, close to Reasi. The process of determining the availability of lithium and e-auctioning the output in a time- bound way, according to officials, has already begun. # ⚓ AppleInsider ☛ House_Judiciary_subpoenas_Tim_Cook_&_rest_of big_tech_about_alleged_collusion⠀⇛ The subpoenas require Sundar Pichai, Andy Jassy, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckberg, and Satya Nadella to turn over all requested documents and communications by March 23, 2023. According to The Wall Street Journal, it’s a probe to determine if the companies censored viewpoints on issues such as COVID-19 policy that disagreed with White House policy. # ⚓ Techdirt ☛ TikTok’s_DC_Lobbying_Charm_Offensive Unsurprisingly_Isn’t_Going_So_Hot⠀⇛ To fend off a ban in the U.S., TikTok lobbyists have attempted to put on a doomed charm offensive in DC, spending a record $5.4 million on U.S. lawmaker influence last year. The effort has even involved opening “transparency centers” in DC designed to “educate” lawmakers on content moderation and the steps TikTok is apparently taking to assuage privacy and security concerns. # ⚓ Techdirt ☛ Twitter_Is_Correct_To_Move_Away_From_SMS_Two Factor_Authentication,_Though,_There_Are_Much_Better_Ways_To Do_It⠀⇛ A lot of people freaked out on Friday after the news came out that Twitter was going to make SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) only available to paid Twitter Blue subscribers. The news was first broken, like so much Twitter news these days, by Platformer reporter Zoe Schiffer. # ⚓ Techdirt ☛ Meta_Following_Elon_Down_The_Road_Of_Making Verification_An_Upsell_Is_A_Terrible_Idea⠀⇛ And here I was thinking that the last few months of Twitter shenanigans with Elon Musk at the helm had done something nearly impossible: made Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership of Meta (Facebook/ Instagram) look thoughtful and balanced in comparison. But then, on Sunday, Zuckberg announced that Meta is following Musk down the dubious road of making “verification” an upsell product people can buy. This is a mistake for many reasons, just as it was a mistake when Musk did it. # ⚓ Scheerpost ☛ US_Anti-Socialism_Resolution_Demeans_US Allies⠀⇛ The anti-socialism resolution passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month sent a chilling message not only to socialists in the United States but to many U.S. friends and allies around the world. By backing a resolution that “denounces socialism in all its forms,” policymakers condemned a broad range… # ⚓ The Nation ☛ The_Absurd_Specter_of_“Woke_Communism”⠀⇛ Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida and perhaps the next president of the United States, is waging war against something he and many others on the right identify as “woke communism.” DeSantis even persuaded the Florida legislature to pass a “Victims of Communism” law, mandating that every November 7 (the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia), all public schools in the state must devote 45 minutes of instruction to the evils of the red menace. # ⚓ NPR ☛ Supreme_Court_showdown_for_Google,_Twitter_and_the social_media_world⠀⇛ At the center of two cases to be argued over two days is Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, passed by Congress when internet platforms were just beginning. In just 26 words, Section 230 draws a distinction between interactive computer service providers and other purveyors of information. Whereas newspapers and broadcasters can be sued for defamation and other wrongful conduct, Section 230 says that websites are not publishers or speakers and cannot be sued for material that appears on those sites. Essentially, the law treats web platforms the same way that it treats the telephone. And just like phone companies, websites that are host to speakers cannot be sued for what the speakers say or do. # ⚓ The Hill ☛ Five_things_to_know_about_the_Supreme_Court_case that_could_change_the_[Internet]⠀⇛ As Congress is largely at a stalemate on how to proceed with rules regulating content moderation, all eyes are on how the justices respond in the first Section 230 case to hit the highest court. “There is a potential, for the first time really, to very significantly change the way that Section 230, which is one of the pillars of internet law, has been interpreted going forward,” said Ashley Johnson, a senior policy analyst at the think tank Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). Here are five things to know heading into Tuesday’s oral argument: [...] # ⚓ ABC ☛ Supreme_Court_wrestles_with_immunity_for_social_media companies⠀⇛ For the first time Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court wrestled with the scope of a landmark federal law that’s given sweeping legal immunity to [Internet] and social media companies for more than 25 years. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — known in the tech world as the “26 words that created the modern internet” — protects the companies from liability for content posted by individual users, no matter how discriminatory, defamatory or even dangerous the information may be. # ⚓ India Times ☛ What_is_Section_230,_the_rule_that_made_the modern_internet?⠀⇛ The outcomes of these cases could reshape the [Internet] as we know it. Section 230 won’t be easily dismantled. But if it is, online speech could be drastically transformed. # ⚓ India Times ☛ AT&T_seeks_to_shed_cybersecurity_division⠀⇛ AT&T Inc, the second-biggest U.S. wireless carrier, is exploring a sale of its cybersecurity division, potentially undoing an acquisition it completed five years ago, according to people familiar with the matter. The sale of the cybersecurity business would add to a string of divestments AT&T has turned to in order to pay down debt following its $108.7 billion acquisition of Time Warner Inc in 2018, a deal it has since also unwound. # ⚓ Computer World ☛ Section_230_liability_protections_on_trial in_Google_Supreme_Court_case⠀⇛ Whether Google can be held liable for recommending harmful content on YouTube is at the heart of a watershed case that could shape the future of the [Internet]. # § Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda⠀➾ # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Republican_Operatives_Are_Astroturfing Opposition_to_Solar_Power⠀⇛ And it looks like Ralston was being paid well by parties with a vested interest in not seeing renewable energy projects succeed. According to NPR, her consulting firm, SBR Enterprises Inc, received almost $300,000 between 2018 and 2020 from the Paul E. Singer Foundation, the charitable giving outlet of wealthy venture capitalist Paul Singer. Singer’s investment firm is the largest shareholder of coal company Peabody Energy; Singer has also funneled money towards prominent climate denier Bjorn Lomborg’s think tank. (In 2019, Ralston said Citizens for Responsible Solar had raised no money from fossil fuel interests; Ralston would not identify the group’s current funders for NPR and Floodlight.) o § Censorship/Free Speech⠀➾ # ⚓ Salon ☛ “Censoring_dissent”:_Florida_GOP_wants_to_make_it easier_for_officials_like_DeSantis_to_sue_critics⠀⇛ Filed by Florida state Rep. Alex Andrade (R-2), H.B. 951 laments that the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan has “foreclosed many meritorious defamation claims to the detriment of citizens of all walks of life” by placing such claims under the purview of the federal government and establishing a high standard of proof. # ⚓ The Nation ☛ Let_Kids_Read_Roald_Dahl’s_Books_the_Way_He Wrote_Them⠀⇛ In the late 17th century, Nahum Tate rewrote King Lear with a happy ending. In the early 19th century, Henrietta and Thomas Bowdler made Shakespeare safe for women and children by taking out all the sexy bits. History has not been kind to either project. It is my dearest hope that the Inclusivity Ambassadors will meet a similar fate. # ⚓ The Vintage News ☛ Roald_Dahl’s_Books_Being_Rewritten Sparked_Backlash_On_Censorship⠀⇛ Roald Dahl was a British novelist whose children’s books became classics all over the world. However, Dahl was a controversial figure when he was alive, and his works were often called antisocial and anti-feminist. Despite the controversy, several of his books were adapted into films for even wider- spread consumption. Recently, his estate worked with his book publisher to edit words and phrases that could be considered inappropriate. The changes stirred an immediate backlash from other authors in the industry, who described the venture as unnecessary censorship. # ⚓ Teen Vogue ☛ After_DeSantis_Criticized,_Florida_Teacher Fired_Over_Video_of_Empty_Library_Shelves⠀⇛ Brian Covey started working as a full-time substitute teacher for Duval County public schools in Florida in October 2022, as he told multiple outlets. The role was helping to address what a working paper from Brown University last year called out as the highest number of teacher vacancies in the country. This past week, following backlash from governor Ron DeSantis, Covey was fired for posting a video to social media demonstrating the impact of DeSantis’s restrictive policies on education, as reported by the Washington Post and elsewhere. # ⚓ VOA News ☛ Iran_Sentences_Detained_US-Based_Opposition Figure_to_Death⠀⇛ A senior member of a U.S.-based Iranian opposition group held by Iran and accused of orchestrating a deadly 2008 mosque bombing has been sentenced to death, authorities said Tuesday. Iran says Jamshid Sharmahd, a 67-year-old Iranian- German national and U.S. resident, is the leader of the armed wing of a group advocating the restoration of the monarchy that was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. # ⚓ Quillette ☛ Left_or_Right,_Politicians_Shouldn’t_Be_Telling Academics_What_They’re_Allowed_to_Teach⠀⇛ Rufo’s desire to oppose the “ignorance and fanaticism” of woke fundamentalists is understandable—commendable, even. It’s an impulse I share. But principled opposition and top-down suppression are two very different things. With the words, “We’re in charge now,” Rufo is signalling to us either that he’s willing to ignore the moral distinction between the two; or, less charitably, that he simply never cared about this distinction to begin with. # ⚓ NDTV ☛ “Rushdie_Now_No_More_Than_Living_Dead”:_Iran Foundation_Rewards_Attacker⠀⇛ “We sincerely thank the brave action of the young American who made Muslims happy by blinding one of Rushdie’s eyes and disabling one of his hands,” said Mohammad Esmail Zarei, secretary of the Foundation to Implement Imam Khomeini’s Fatwas. # ⚓ The Verge ☛ The_Supreme_Court_battle_for_Section_230_has begun⠀⇛ The first shots have been fired in a Supreme Court showdown over web platforms, terrorism, and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Today, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Gonzales v. Google — one of two lawsuits that are likely to shape the future of the internet. Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh are a pair of lawsuits blaming platforms for facilitating Islamic State attacks. The court’s final ruling on these cases will determine web services’ liability for hosting illegal activity, particularly if they promote it with algorithmic recommendations. # ⚓ NPR ☛ No_ideological_splits,_only_worried_justices_as_High Court_hears_Google_case⠀⇛ “How do I draw a line between an algorithm and active collusion?” Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked. # ⚓ Pro Publica ☛ School_District_Pays_Legal_Fees_After_Banning Mothers_From_Reading_Sexually_Graphic_Passages_at_Meetings⠀⇛ A group of conservative Georgia mothers on a quest to ban library books has won a key victory against a school district that sought to limit their ability to recite graphic passages from those books at school board meetings. Forsyth County Schools agreed this month to pay $107,500 in legal fees to the group, called the Mama Bears. Like many conservatives nationwide, the Mama Bears have taken to trying to get books removed from school libraries by reading sexually explicit passages aloud at school board meetings. o § Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press⠀➾ # ⚓ NBC ☛ Farsi-language_TV_channel_in_U.K._moving_to_U.S. after_warnings_of_potential_threat_from_Iranian_agents⠀⇛ Iran International television said Saturday it had “reluctantly closed its London studios” due to mounting threats against its journalists and on the advice of London’s Metropolitan Police. “I cannot believe it has come to this. A foreign state has caused such a significant threat to the British public on British soil that we have to move,” Mahmood Enayat, the station’s general manager, said in a statement from the broadcaster. “We refuse to be silenced by these cowardly threats,” he said. “We will continue to broadcast. We are undeterred. # ⚓ VOA News ☛ UN_Experts_Demand_Reinstatement_of_Cambodian News_Outlet⠀⇛ U.N. experts have demanded the reinstatement of Voice of Democracy after the online Khmer- and English-language broadcaster, one of Cambodia’s last independent media outlets, was stripped of its license. Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier this month ordered VOD’s license revoked over what he said was an erroneous report about his eldest son. # ⚓ Meduza ☛ Chechen_opposition_blogger_Tumso_Abdurakhmanov reappears_after_going_missing_in_early_December⠀⇛ On Tuesday, Abdurakhmanov posted his first YouTube video in almost three months. In it, he confirmed that he’s alive and healthy, but didn’t provide further details about his situation. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Another_Belarusian_Journalist_Gets_Prison_Term_Amid Crackdown⠀⇛ # ⚓ CPJ ☛ Newly_released_from_Turkish_prison,_Kurdish journalist_Nedim_Türfent_reflects_on_sham_prosecution⠀⇛ Though Türfent’s prosecution was openly retaliatory and all 13 of the state’s initial witnesses recanted their testimony against him, he told CPJ that his case received comparatively limited attention in Turkey because he’s Kurdish. Türfent was born on the Turkey’s southeastern edge bordering Iran and Iraq, a predominantly Kurdish area and a stronghold for armed groups seeking autonomous rule. He began reporting on rights violations in local conflict zones for the now- shuttered Dicle News Agency (DİHA) to help victims whose stories never made it beyond the region. Instead, he became one of those stories. o § Civil Rights/Policing⠀➾ # ⚓ Techdirt ☛ New_York_Legislators_Once_Again_Trying_To_Curb Law_Enforcement_Access_To_Military_Gear⠀⇛ For years, law enforcement agencies converted themselves into quasi-military agencies with the assistance of the Defense Department. Whatever the military no longer needed, cops could have for cheap or free, as long as they remembered to say things about “national security” when filling out their 1033 program requisitions. Unsurprisingly, the acquisition of warrior gear (camouflage uniforms, assault rifles, mine resistant vehicles) made cops feel more like warriors, rather than protectors. Violence increased as cops began to look less and less like cops. Ever since law enforcement rolled into anti- police violence protests following the killing of Michael Brown looking for all the world like an occupying force, the 1033 program has faced increased scrutiny. # ⚓ France24 ☛ ‘I_never_wear_a_headscarf_anymore’:_Iranian women_continue_to_defy_Islamic_regime⠀⇛ However, Iranian women still face pressure from the regime to continue wearing the veil, in the form of threats, restrictions and acts of violence. Hossein Jalali, an Iranian MP, told Iranian media on December 20,2022 that “the restrictions regarding the hijab are very much in place, it’s just the way they are enforced that has changed.” # ⚓ Foreign Policy ☛ Can_Buses_Drive_Change_for_Jordanian Women?⠀⇛ Nodznaya had taken public transportation in the Jordanian capital before. Counterintuitively, what is called “public transit” in Amman has long been a private, for-profit enterprise of taxis, buses, and shared taxis known as “services”—essentially, a network of all vehicles that are not personal cars. Until the BRT, government-run transit did not exist. o § Monopolies⠀➾ # ⚓ India Times ☛ Microsoft’s_president_to_push_Activision_deal at_EU_hearing;_Google,_Nvidia_also_present⠀⇛ Smith will lead a delegation of 18 senior executives, including Microsoft Gaming Chief Executive Officer Phil Spencer, while Activision will be represented by its CEO Robert Kotick according to a European Commission document seen by Reuters. # ⚓ EFF ☛ Podcast_Episode:_The_Right_to_Imagine_Your_Own Future⠀⇛ That idea guides Deji Bryce Olukotun’s work both as a critically acclaimed author and as a tech company’s social impact chief. Instead of just envisioning the oligarch-dominated dystopia we fear, he believes speculative fiction can paint a picture of healthy, open societies in which all share in technology’s economic bounty. It can also help to free people’s imaginations to envision more competitive, level playing fields. Then we can use those diverse visions to guide policy solutions, from antitrust enforcement to knocking down the laws that stymie innovation.  Olukotun speaks with EFF’s Cindy Cohn and Jason Kelley about rejecting the inevitability of the tech future that profit-driven corporate figureheads describe, and choosing instead to exercise the right to imagine our own future and leverage that vision into action.  =============================================================================== * Gemini_(Primer) links can be opened using Gemini_software. It’s like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter. ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 3243 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ Links_22/02/2023:_GDB_13.1,_Istio_1.15.6_and_1.16.3⠀✐ Posted in News_Roundup at 3:18 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GNOME bluefish⦈ § Contents⠀➾ * GNU/Linux o Audiocasts/Shows o Kernel_Space o Applications o Instructionals/Technical * Distributions_and_Operating_Systems o New_Releases o Fedora_Family_/_IBM o Devices/Embedded o Open_Hardware/Modding o Mobile_Systems/Mobile_Applications * Free,_Libre,_and_Open_Source_Software o Programming/Development # Perl_/_Raku # Java * Leftovers o Health/Nutrition/Agriculture o Security # Privacy/Surveillance o Defence/Aggression o Transparency/Investigative_Reporting o Environment # Energy/Transportation o Finance o AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics o Censorship/Free_Speech o Freedom_of_Information_/_Freedom_of_the_Press o Civil_Rights/Policing o Internet_Policy/Net_Neutrality o Monopolies # Patents * Gemini*_and_Gopher o Personal o Technical * § GNU/Linux⠀➾ o ⚓ Linux Made Simple ☛ Linux_Weekly_Roundup_#223⠀⇛ o § Audiocasts/Shows⠀➾ # ⚓ Video ☛ 1_How_To_Use_The_Shell_Commands_‘pushd’,_‘popd’_and ‘dirs’_–_Invidious⠀⇛ In this command line tutorial, I will be discussing ‘pushd’, ‘popd’ and ‘dirs. These are Bash built-in functions but both Zsh and Fish also have their own versions of these built-ins. Also, Fish has some even nicer built-ins that complement these, including: ‘chd’, ‘dirh’, ‘prevd’ and ‘nextd’. # ⚓ Video ☛ I_Would_Never_Install_A_Brand_New_Linux_Distro_– Invidious⠀⇛ I want to discuss with you guys some thoughts that I have regarding new Linux distros. I think that we, the community, are doing a lot of harm showcasing these new distros in videos or in online publications. Most of these new distros are just not very good… # ⚓ Video ☛ How_To_Never_Improve_The_Linux_Wayland_Experience_– Invidious⠀⇛ Wayland is getting better every single day but that can only happen as more developers decide to support the platform, so you’d think that if someone offereed to fix all your Wayland issue and you also think it’s bad, you’d be up for accepting that patch # ⚓ Video ☛ Steam’s_LAN_Transfer_beta_just_landed…_but_it’s_not exactly_what_I_expected._–_Invidious⠀⇛ Valve has delivered yet another feature that brings the Steam ecosystem closer together–but is this something I will be using regularly? # ⚓ Video ☛ It’s_a_simple_spell_but_quite_unbreakable_🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇:P⦈__–_Invidious⠀⇛ o § Kernel Space⠀➾ # ⚓ Slashdot ☛ Linux_6.2:_The_First_Mainstream_Linux_Kernel_for Apple_M1_Chips_Arrives⠀⇛ # ⚓ SDx Central ☛ Linux_6.2_Brings_Network-Related_Updates, Adds_800_Gbps_and_WiFi_7_Support⠀⇛ At the core of every Linux-based device and operating system is the Linux kernel, which provides a foundational set of integrated capabilities. On Sunday, Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, released the latest milestone with the Linux 6.2 kernel. A big part of the new Linux kernel is a long list of networking-related updates that will serve as a foundation for the next generation of networking and telco equipment. Linux-based operating systems are commonly found inside networking equipment for both enterprise and telco use cases, as well as being widely used in the cloud. The Linux kernel itself is a component that fits into a larger Linux operating system, with multiple vendors including IBM‘s Red Hat, SUSE, Canonical and others providing commercially supported distributions. o § Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ Anton Sergeyev ☛ Byobu,_a_simple_terminal_multiplexer_| Anton_on_software⠀⇛ I am not a proponent of highly customized development environments. During the years, I’ve tried employing various “advanced” tools and tricks in my workflow: zsh, all sorts of terminals, shortcuts, aliases, and so on. Most of them didn’t stick. In most cases, I’m not interested enough to change the ways and habits for something that is supposed to marginally improve my everyday work, doesn’t come by default, and requires extra configuration. Still, among such tools, there are a few exceptions that seem to strike a balance between complexity and added value, and one of them is byobu. # ⚓ TecMint ☛ 5_Best_Lightweight_Linux_Distributions_for Running_Containers⠀⇛ Are you looking for a Linux operating system optimized for running containers with minimal footprints, fast boot times, and a focus on security and stability? In this guide, we will review the top lightweight or minimal GNU/Linux distributions to use, either as a base image for creating containers or running containerized workloads in production. o § Instructionals/Technical⠀➾ # ⚓ It’s FOSS ☛ Making_Directories_in_Linux_Terminal⠀⇛ Learn to make new folders in the Linux command line in this part of the Terminal Basics tutorial series. # ⚓ Video ☛ How_to_Format_USB_Drives_in_Linux_–_Invidious⠀⇛ Here are three ways to format a USB drvie or SD card in Linux… # ⚓ Linux Made Simple ☛ How_to_install_the_Brave_Beta_browser on_KDE_Neon⠀⇛ # ⚓ Linux Made Simple ☛ How_to_install_Godot_Mono_3.5.1_on_a Chromebook⠀⇛ # ⚓ Linux Made Simple ☛ How_to_install_RubyMine_on_KDE_Neon⠀⇛ # ⚓ Linux Made Simple ☛ How_to_install_Gacha_Plus_on_a Chromebook⠀⇛ * § Distributions and Operating Systems⠀➾ o ⚓ It’s FOSS ☛ NixOS_Series_#1:_Why_Should_You_Consider_Using NixOS⠀⇛ NixOS… Yet another distro that uses a different package manager? Well, NixOS is one of the advanced Linux distros. So if I’m writing this, I must have a rock-solid reason, right? Well, there are plenty! I’ve been using it for 3 months, and it is so good that I’m considering switching from my all-time favorite Pop!_OS to NixOS. And in this guide, I will share the key features of NixOS, making it stand out from the stack of Linux distros. o § New Releases⠀➾ # ⚓ Neptune_7.9_Beta_1_available_for_testing_–_Neptune_EN⠀⇛ As by our tradition Neptune 7.9 Beta 1 ISO is now available on time for Carneval. You can find the ISO here: https://download.neptuneos.com/dev/ This one comes based upon Debian Testing (Bookworm) with the latest Plasma 5.27 (Beta) aswell as Linux kernel 6.1.8. For the first time we ship Plasma Wayland as session aswell as Flatpak with activated Flathub repository for a vast amount of apps available for Linux. o § Fedora Family / IBM⠀➾ # ⚓ Linuxiac ☛ risiOS:_The_Unconventional_Approach_to_Fedora Linux⠀⇛ For a good reason, Fedora is a well-known name among Linux users. As a community-driven distribution, Fedora is known for its cutting-edge technology and commitment to open-source principles. In addition, it has gained a reputation for being a stable, reliable, and versatile operating system suitable for a wide range of uses, from personal computing to enterprise-level applications. Its user-friendly interface, extensive software repositories, and active community support make it an excellent choice for beginners and experienced Linux users. But, of course, there is always room for improvement, and risiOS is banking on that. First, however, before we go any further, we need to answer an important question. o § Devices/Embedded⠀➾ # ⚓ CNX Software ☛ CH32V003_RISC-V_MCU_gets_$1.5_development board,_open_source_GCC_toolchain_and_flasher_utility⠀⇛ When we first wrote about the 10-cent CH32V003 RISC-V MCU it was offered in a $7 development board and the closed-source MounRiver Studio IDE had to be used for programming. But things have improved since October 2022, and now, you can buy a CH32V003 board for as little as $1.5 plus shipping, and an open-source GCC toolchain and flasher/downloader are now available. Let’s have a look at the hardware first with the low-cost nanoCH32V003 development board featuring a 48 MHz CH32V003 RISC-V microcontroller with 2KB SRAM and 16KB flash, a USB Type-C port for power, a reset button, and two rows of headers for the GPIOs. # ⚓ Linux Gizmos ☛ Beryl_AX_Wi-Fi6_Router_runs_on_OpenWrt v21.02⠀⇛ GL.iNet has tutorials available with instructions to set up their products for the first time, how to set up OpenVPN Client/Server, how to set up WireGuard Client/Server, etc. The company states that this router “runs on open-source OpenWrt 21.02 firmware, supporting more than 5000 ready-made plug-ins for customization. Simply browse, install, and manage packages with our no-code interface within Beryl AX’s Admin Panel.“ o § Open Hardware/Modding⠀➾ # ⚓ Arduino ☛ Monitoring_hospital_bed_occupancy_with_an_Arduino Nano_33_BLE_Sense⠀⇛ In care facilities and hospitals, being able to tell when beds are occupied or free is vital knowledge for the staff, as they can move onto other tasks more quickly with up-to-date information. Adam Milton-Barker’s hospital bed occupancy detection system aims to accomplish this goal by combining embedded machine learning models and connected hardware for gathering real-time data. Milton-Barker’s first step was to create a new Edge Impulse project and add several samples of himself either getting into bed for an occupied status or standing up to indicate a vacancy by taking continuous measurements from a Nano 33 BLE Sense’s built-in accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. Once passed through a spectral analysis block, the resulting nine-channel data was used to train a classification model that could accurately detect when a person either gets in or out of bed, or for a lack of general activity. o § Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ Linux On Mobile ☛ Weekly_GNU-like_Mobile_Linux_Update_(7/ 2023):_New_Hardware_and_new_PinePhone_Keyboard_Firmware⠀⇛ A fix for PinePhone Mesa troubles, a new Manjaro Phosh beta, a new postmarketOS splashscreen, a guide to developing mobile apps with a nested Phosh session, a new Tokodon release and an association Peter might join._ # ⚓ 7NEWS ☛ Samsung_warns_millions_of_Android_users_about_cyber attacks,_rolling_out_Samsung_Message_Guard_for_zero-click exploits_|_7NEWS⠀⇛ # ⚓ SlashGear ☛ Is_A_New_Flagship_Android_Phone_Really_Worth $1,000?⠀⇛ # ⚓ Phone Arena ☛ T-Mobile_opens_the_floodgates_for_OnePlus 7T’s_final_Android_update_–_PhoneArena⠀⇛ # ⚓ XDA ☛ T-Mobile’s_OnePlus_7T_finally_picks_up_the_Android_12 update_with_OxygenOS_12⠀⇛ # ⚓ India Times ☛ Nothing_Phone_(1)_receives_Android_13-based Nothing_OS_1.5_–_Times_of_India⠀⇛ # ⚓ Phone Arena ☛ ROG_Phone_6_–_6_Pro_are_getting_their promised_Android_13_update_–_PhoneArena⠀⇛ # ⚓ Notebook Check ☛ Xiaomi_Pad_5_gets_MIUI_14_and_Android_13 with_performance_improvements,_novelties_and_other refinements_–_NotebookCheck.net_News⠀⇛ # ⚓ Good E Reader ☛ Android_14_will_be_great_for_E_INK_Android Tablets_–_Good_e-Reader⠀⇛ # ⚓ 9to5Google ☛ Google_Weather_gets_accidental_dark_theme_via Webview_update⠀⇛ * § Free, Libre, and Open Source Software⠀➾ o ⚓ It’s FOSS ☛ DreamWorks’_Renderer_Used_for_‘Puss_in_Boots’_is Going_Open-Source_Very_Soon⠀⇛ DreamWorks is going to open-source their in-house ‘MoonRay’ renderer very soon; it has been the driving force behind their movies since ‘How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.’ The renderer was also used for making the latest Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) Plans for making MoonRay’s code open were announced last year in August, with a planned release date sometime later in 2022. But we hadn’t heard anything substantial from their side since. Until now. o § Programming/Development⠀➾ # ⚓ LWN ☛ GDB_13.1_released_[LWN.net]⠀⇛ Version 13.1 of the GNU GDB debugger has been released. Changes include support for the LoongArch and CSKY architectures, a number of Python API improvements, support for zstd-compressed debug sections, and more. # ⚓ Mark Nottingham ☛ How_we_Build_Platforms⠀⇛ And, frankly, I don’t want to live in a society where pouring countless billions into a platform gives you automatic rule over people’s interactions, solely because no one else spent as much and you had the first mover / network effect advantage. Of course, this isn’t a complete solution. Open platforms aren’t automatically equitable and user- focused; creating and maintaining them takes considerable resources. Regulators would need to follow up and put appropriate pressure on selected private consumer platforms, which implies they need to be well-resourced too. # § Perl / Raku⠀➾ # ⚓ Perl ☛ Perl_Weekly_Challenge_205:_Third_Highest_and Maximum_(Bit-Wise)_XOR⠀⇛ # § Java⠀➾ # ⚓ Worst_Practices_to_Avoid_in_Java_Programming⠀⇛ Still, even without the help of AI, there are things you can do to become a better programmer and the most important is to avoid some bad practices. * § Leftovers⠀➾ o ⚓ Joe Brockmeier ☛ Joe_Brockmeier:_What’s_the_deal_with_night mode?⠀⇛ At the risk of sounding like a Jerry Seinfeld bit, what is the deal with night mode? I was in a meeting today where somebody touted night mode in a tool as a Really Good Thing and I’m perplexed. I’m not perplexed about what night mode (or dark mode) is. I might be a bit dense, but not quite that dense. I’ve experimented with tons of themes, etc., over the years on Linux desktop environments. Mostly I tend to drift back to light themes because the dark ones feel a bit oppressive. What perplexes me is that the mode is so popular it rates product_announcements and has so_many_zealous_proponents. What am I missing? o ⚓ CNN ☛ Pilot_thought_instructor_who_died_inflight_was_‘just pretending’⠀⇛ A flying instructor died inflight after suffering a cardiac arrest, but his co-pilot thought he was fooling around and only realized after landing on the runway with the man slumped on his shoulder. o ⚓ Lawyers_file_criminal_complaints_against_Erdoğan,_ministers_over earthquakes⠀⇛ The lawyers pressed 11 charges against the officials, including “causing death by gross negligence,” “preventing communication” and “collusive tendering.” o ⚓ Mark Dominus ☛ Construing_cube_faces_as_pairs_of_something_or other⠀⇛ o § Health/Nutrition/Agriculture⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ Only_5.7%_of_US_doctors_are_Black,_and_experts_warn the_shortage_harms_public_health⠀⇛ When being truly honest with herself, Seun Adebagbo says, she can describe what drove her to go to medical school in a single word: self-preservation. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ The_Mask_Mandates_Did_Nothing._Will_Any Lessons_Be_Learned?⠀⇛ “Do something” is not science, and it shouldn’t have been public policy. # ⚓ Axios ☛ EPA_orders_Norfolk_Southern_to_clean_up_site_of Ohio_train_derailment⠀⇛ The Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern on Tuesday to clean up the contamination from the_derailment_of_one_of_its_trains carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month. Why it matters:The railway operator has been cleaning up the crash site voluntarily, but the EPA’s_order will require the company to do so under a plan approved by the agency. # ⚓ Vox ☛ The_other_long_Covid:_The_damage_done_to_a_generation of_schoolchildren⠀⇛ # ⚓ NL Times ☛ Staff_at_over_50_hospitals_will_go_on_strike next_month⠀⇛ # ⚓ CNET ☛ Bacteria_Risk_Prompts_Recall_of_145,000_Cans_of_Baby Formula_–_CNET⠀⇛ # ⚓ The Conversation ☛ Four_habits_of_happy_people_–_as recommended_by_a_psychologist⠀⇛ What makes you happy? Maybe it’s getting up early to see the sunrise, hanging out with family and friends on a weekend, or going for a dip in the sea. But what does science say about the things happy people do? We know that happy people tend to have strong relationships, good physical health and contribute regularly to their communities. I have experimented over the past seven years with a number of happiness and wellbeing interventions in a bid to improve my own mental health and to understand how to best help others. Some strategies have stuck while others haven’t worked for me. But here’s what I’ve learnt along the way. The reality is that there’ll be times we manage to engage with happiness habits and feel positive. Then there’ll be occasions when life throws a curve ball and our happiness is affected. But the good news is that we can all improve our levels of happiness with daily practice. o § Security⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ US_military_investigating_leak_of_emails_from Pentagon_server⠀⇛ The US military’s Special Operations Command says it is investigating a report from a cybersecurity researcher that the command was leaking a trove of unclassified email data on the internet. # ⚓ Announcing_Istio_1.15.6⠀⇛ This release note describes what’s different between Istio 1.15.5 and Istio 1.15.6. This release includes security fixes in Go 1.19.6 (released 2/14/2023) for the path/filepath, net/ http, mime/multipart, and crypto/tls packages. # ⚓ Announcing_Istio_1.16.3⠀⇛ This release contains bug fixes to improve robustness. This release note describes what’s different between Istio 1.16.2 and Istio 1.16.3. This release includes security fixes in Go 1.19.6 (released 2/14/2023) for the path/filepath, net/ http, mime/multipart, and crypto/tls packages. # ⚓ GoDaddy_reveals_three_years_of_ongoing_attacks⠀⇛ # ⚓ LWN ☛ Security_updates_for_Monday_[LWN.net]⠀⇛ # ⚓ LWN ☛ Security_updates_for_Tuesday⠀⇛ # § Privacy/Surveillance⠀➾ # ⚓ Yahoo News ☛ UPDATE_1-U.S._Supreme_Court_snubs Wikipedia_bid_to_challenge_NSA_surveillance⠀⇛ The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a bid by the operator of the popular Wikipedia internet encyclopedia to resurrect its lawsuit against the National Security Agency challenging mass online surveillance. Turning away the Wikimedia Foundation’s appeal, the justices left in place a lower court’s dismissal of the lawsuit based on the government’s assertion of what is called the state secrets privilege, a legal doctrine that can shut down litigation if disclosure of certain information would damage U.S. national security. Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, Wikimedia Foundation sued in 2015 challenging the legality of the NSA’s “Upstream” surveillance of foreign targets through the “suspicionless” collection and searching of internet traffic on data transmission lines flowing into and out of the United States. # ⚓ Cointelegraph ☛ ‘Privacy_has_become_a_taboo,’_says crypto-anarchist_project_DarkFi⠀⇛ We believe with privacy by default and maximum anonymity, we will enable people to organize and act in much safer spaces and ecosystems. We are also very inspired by Richard Stallman and the free software movement, which is also why (unlike most other crypto things) DarkFi is fully licensed with the GNU AGPL license, and we follow the free software philosophy. # ⚓ Supreme_Court_won’t_revive_lawsuit_over_NSA surveillance⠀⇛ The Supreme Court has declined to revive an ACLU lawsuit challenging a portion of the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance of Americans’ international email and phone communications. # ⚓ EDRI ☛ PEGA_Committee_must_call_for_an_EU-wide_ban_on spyware⠀⇛ The European Parliament’s inquiry committee on Pegasus and other similar spyware (PEGA) is working on a set of recommendations for the regulation of the use of intrusive spyware by EU Member States. It is still unclear whether the Committee will dare to set vitally needed red lines and call for a sufficiently protective European Union-wide framework against spyware in its non-binding report. EDRi submitted amendments to strengthen the demands for the protection of affected people and democratic values. o § Defence/Aggression⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ “Ukraine_will_never_be_a_victory_for_Russia._Never’: Biden_delivers_rallying_cry_against_Putin⠀⇛ The last time President Joe Biden spoke from the courtyard of the Royal Castle in Poland, the content of his 27-minute speech was mostly obscured by what he ad-libbed about Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end. # ⚓ CNN ☛ Putin’s_rambling,_hour-and-45-minute_speech_was nothing_new⠀⇛ # ⚓ CNN ☛ Retired_colonel_weighs_in_on_Putin_suspending participation_in_nuclear_arms_pact_with_US⠀⇛ Retired US Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton weighs in on President Vladimir Putin’s declaration that he is suspending Russia’s participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty. # ⚓ CNN ☛ Ukraine_becomes_a_test_of_America’s_two-front_clash with_China_and_Russia⠀⇛ • China’s top diplomat visits Moscow # ⚓ CNN ☛ ‘Everything_is_sinking’:_Hear_Wagner_leader_discuss supply_problems⠀⇛ Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military company Wagner, acknowledged a “major problem” with ammunition supplies for his troops, amid a public spat with the leaders of Russia’s defense establishment. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ What_Putin’s_Suspension_of_New_START Treaty_Means_for_Arms_Control⠀⇛ Mutual inspections were interrupted by the pandemic, then by the war in Ukraine. But now New START, the last nuclear agreement between Russia and the United States, is dying, and arms control may be, too. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Biden_Accuses_Putin_of_Atrocities_and Urges_World_to_Rebuke_Him⠀⇛ In sharply opposed speeches, President Biden said Vladimir V. Putin bore sole responsibility for the war, while Mr. Putin said Russia had invaded in self-defense. But they agreed the war would not end soon. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Wagner_Group_Chief_Accuses_Russian Military_Command_of_Treason⠀⇛ Caustic accusations by the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, suggest that his vaunted access to Vladimir Putin may be on the wane. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ In_Northern_Ukraine,_a_Different_Sort_of War_Game⠀⇛ Russian forces are shelling border areas there to tie up thousands of Ukrainian troops that might otherwise defend against attacks farther south. # ⚓ ADF ☛ Sudan_Junta’s_Ties_to_Russia_Raise_Concerns_About Transition_to_Democracy⠀⇛ ADF STAFF A Framework Political Agreement signed December 5 between Sudan’s ruling military junta and a collection of civilian political groups has been praised as the first step on the path to democracy. # ⚓ ADF ☛ SPF_Officers_Complete_Community_Policing_Exercise_in Mogadishu⠀⇛ ADF STAFF Nearly 40 Somali Police Force (SPF) officers finished a week of training in community policing that officials hope will help turn the tide against the al-Shabaab insurgency. # ⚓ ADF ☛ Report:_Lack_of_Jobs_Is_Primary_Driver_of_Extremist Recruitment⠀⇛ ADF STAFF Sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s new epicenter for violent extremism, and most people who join extremist organizations said they were motivated by a lack of work, according to a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). # ⚓ Deutsche Welle ☛ Putin_blames_war_on_West,_suspends_nuclear disarmament_pact⠀⇛ # ⚓ Atlantic Council ☛ US_foreign_policy:_China_is_important but_the_top_priority_is_stopping_Russia⠀⇛ Members of the US foreign policy establishment are wrong to prioritize a “China First” perspective at a time when Putin’s Russia is waging a major war of aggression in Ukraine, writes Richard D. Hooker, Jr. # ⚓ Atlantic Council ☛ Putin_could_still_win_unless_the_West speeds_up_efforts_to_arm_Ukraine⠀⇛ Ukraine’s international partners are gradually providing the country with the weapons it needs to beat Russia, but excessive caution and continued delays could still allow Vladimir Putin to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. o § Transparency/Investigative Reporting⠀➾ # ⚓ uni Michigan ☛ $15M_bolsters_work_on_connected,_automated vehicles⠀⇛ U-M will continue to lead regional efforts aimed at transitioning the nation to connected and automated vehicles — bolstered by a new $15 million, five- year grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. o § Environment⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ ‘The_beginning_of_the_end?’:_Scientists_sound_the alarm_on_Antarctic_sea_ice⠀⇛ Antarctic sea ice has reached record low levels for the second time in two years, with some scientists alarmed that dramatic drops are a signal the climate crisis may now be more clearly influencing this vast, complex and isolated region. # ⚓ CNN ☛ Venice_canals_run_dry_amid_fears_Italy_faces_another drought⠀⇛ Weeks of dry winter weather have raised concerns that Italy could face another drought after last summer’s emergency, with the Alps having received less than half of their normal snowfall, according to scientists and environmental groups. # ⚓ Axios ☛ From_an_historic_blizzard_to_record_heat,_extreme weather_to_slam_U.S._this_week⠀⇛ The U.S. is currently_plastered_with_severe_weather advisories, from blizzard warnings in Minnesota and Wyoming to high wind alerts across the West and Plains. The big picture:The extreme weather on tap for the U.S. this week will feature record-breaking cold in the West along with heavy snow, facing off against record heat in the East. # § Energy/Transportation⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ How_oil_and_gas_companies_think_about_their shareholders⠀⇛ Oil and gas companies have seen skyrocketing growth as the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine has challenged people’s quality of life, financial stability, and overall well-being. # ⚓ Axios ☛ NFTs_are_down,_but_they’re_not_dead⠀⇛ The market for NFTs has gotten smaller. But it hasn’t died. Why it matters:Despite the societal and media urge to eulogize the fall of any once-big thing, more than $480_million_worth of NFTs exchanged hands in the past 30 days. Perhaps more importantly, the market is changing in a fundamental way. # ⚓ Renewable Energy World ☛ DOE_breaks_ground_on_next- generation_CSP_pilot⠀⇛ The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) celebrated the groundbreaking of its Generation 3 concentrating solar-thermal pilot facility at Sandia National Laboratories. o § Finance⠀➾ # ⚓ Green Party UK ☛ Green_Party_respond_to_successful_four-day week_trial_|_The_Green_Party⠀⇛ Responding to the six-month trial of a four-day week [1] which involved 61 companies almost 3000 workers, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “A four-day week works. This trial has shown it reduces stress, lowers levels of burnout, and prevents employees quitting. “And while employees have had an extra day a week to do what they want or need to do, all without any loss to their pay, the companies involved report no decline in company revenue. What’s not to like about a four-day week? # ⚓ Deutsche Welle ☛ Is_Germany’s_skilled-labor_shortage_a myth?⠀⇛ The labor market in the western German town of Bonn seems broken these days. Not for workers, mind you ­— employers, instead, are desperately looking for staff. Many cafes in the town center feature a notice reading “employees wanted.” Even a local shoemaker complains that his children don’t want to take over his business, as they prefer to study at university. It’s hopeless even to find an apprentice, he told DW. The same goes for the blacksmith at the equestrian center nearby, who is also desperate because the apprentice he trained for several years didn’t want to stay on. Finding an adequate replacement is next to impossible in the current economic situation. One of his neighbors who works for a large corporation, the shoemaker went on, is also on the lookout for staff — but even larger companies aren’t able to find the IT specialists they need. In a recent labor market report, the Economy Ministry said Germany’s shortage of skilled workers is “acutely affecting” many companies’ potential to grow. # ⚓ CS Monitor ☛ ‘Fitting’_or_‘filling’_the_bill:_Which_one_to use?_–_CSMonitor.com⠀⇛ After a long day of downhill skiing, a mug of hot chocolate fits the bill. Or does it fill the bill? Someone has to foot the bill for the not- inexpensive adventure; if it turns out that only one ski lift was open instead of the 10 promised, that person might complain that they were sold a bill of goods. English has lots of bill idioms, but the bills involved are not the same. # ⚓ CBC ☛ Canada’s_inflation_rate_slowed_to_5.9%_in_January, but_food_costs_continue_to_rise⠀⇛ o § AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ Netanyahu’s_controversial_courts_bill_passes_first reading_despite_protests⠀⇛ Protesters blocked roads in cities across Israel during demonstrations Monday as the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduces a controversial judicial overhaul bill. # ⚓ Axios ☛ Jeffries_rips_McCarthy_for_“egregious_security breach”_over_Jan._6_footage⠀⇛ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy committed an “egregious security breach” by giving_access_to Jan._6_footage to Fox News. # ⚓ Axios ☛ Economic_coercion_is_China’s_favorite_new_foreign policy_tool⠀⇛ Since 2020, Beijing has increasingly used trade restrictions and threats to defend its geopolitical interests around the globe, making economic coercion an “established and favoured part” of China’s foreign policy, according to a new report. Why it matters: China’s economic coercion suppresses global speech critical of Beijing and makes it harder for countries to uphold the liberal international system of open trade, rule of law and human rights. # ⚓ The Strategist ☛ Infrastructure_operators_need_access_to intelligence_to_protect_their_assets⠀⇛ Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil launched the government’s ‘critical infrastructure risk management program’ yesterday. The minister is clearly focused on preventing a repeat of last year’s high-profile and publicly contentious hacks of Optus and Medibank. # ⚓ The Strategist ☛ Countering_China’s_coercive_diplomacy⠀⇛ ‘We treat our friends with fine wine, but for our enemies we have shotguns.’ — Gui Congyou (桂从友), former Chinese ambassador to Sweden, 2019 The People’s Republic of China is increasingly using a range [...] # ⚓ The Strategist ☛ South_Asia’s_looming_water_war⠀⇛ More than six decades ago, the world’s most generous water-sharing pact was concluded. # ⚓ The Strategist ☛ ASIO_chief_highlights_evolving_terror threat_to_Australia⠀⇛ In his 2023 annual threat assessment address, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Mike Burgess, characterised Australia’s security environment as complex, challenging and changing. # ⚓ Atlantic Council ☛ Kroenig_in_Sound_ON_Podcast,_discusses Increasing_Risks_of_China-US_War⠀⇛ On January 30, Dr. Matthew Kroenig joined Bloomberg Washington Correspondent Joe Mathieu to discuss General Mike Minihan’s internal memo that the United States and China risk going to war in 2025. # ⚓ Atlantic Council ☛ Warrick_in_Estonian_Free_Press_on_Drone Stikes_in_Iran⠀⇛ On January 30, FD Nonresident Senior Fellow Thomas Warrick offered his expert opinion on the recent drones strikes in Iran conducted by Israel. # ⚓ Atlantic Council ☛ Iraq_needs_to_address_the_economy’s structural_imbalances_to_halt_the_dinar’s_volatility⠀⇛ The Iraqi government and the Central Bank of Iraq introduced a series of measures to create domestic demand for the Iraqi dinar and to accelerate the adoption of banking in the economy. # ⚓ Atlantic Council ☛ The_Middle_East_in_the_US-India-China Strategic_Triangle⠀⇛ Raja Mohan joins us to discuss India’s role in geopolitics in the Middle East as well as the perspective of New Delhi on the influence of the US-China tug-of-war within the region, and provide some insights about maritime security in the Indian Ocean and the growing influence of mixed cultures in the Gulf. # ⚓ Engadget ☛ TikTok_opens_data_to_US_researchers_in_its_bid to_be_more_transparent⠀⇛ # § Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda⠀➾ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Fighting_Corporate_Lies⠀⇛ Yes, there’s still a lot of greenwashing out there. But regulators and activists are on alert more than ever. # ⚓ ADF ☛ ‘Huge_Network’_of_Russian_Disinformation Platforms_Found_Targeting_Africa⠀⇛ ADF STAFF A new joint investigation has found a prolific Russian disinformation campaign sowing division and spreading propaganda across the continent. A Belgian man with links to dictators and the infamous Russian mercenary Wagner Group is spreading anti- France propaganda and disinformation using bots, trolls and other social media tools. o § Censorship/Free Speech⠀➾ # ⚓ NCAC ☛ NCAC_objects_to_Kutztown,_PA_School_District’s cancellation_of_reading_program⠀⇛ The National Coalition Against Censorship objects to Kutztown Area School District’s Superintendent’s unilateral decision to cancel the One-Book Project following complaints about the climate change themes of the selected book. We urge the district to reinstate the project and adjudicate any challenges pursuant to the district’s policy. # ⚓ Türkiye_blocks_access_to_popular_social_media_platform_Ekşi Sözlük⠀⇛ While the reason for the decision is not yet clear, many social media users assume that it was part of the government’s efforts to curb social media following the devastating earthquakes on February 6. o § Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press⠀➾ # ⚓ The Art Newspaper ☛ London_exhibition_supporting_Wikileaks whistleblower_Julian_Assange_draws_contributions_from_Ai Weiwei_and_Vivienne_Westwood’s_foundation⠀⇛ Physical copies of some of the top secret US diplomatic cables leaked by Assange will be on show # ⚓ How_social_networks_became_a_’subsidiary’_of_the_FBI_and CIA_|_Middle_East_Eye⠀⇛ The Twitter Files have lifted the lid on a secret alliance between Silicon Valley, intelligence agencies and the political establishment  # ⚓ CPJ ☛ Slovakia_press_freedom_delegation_demands_justice_for Ján_Kuciak_–_Committee_to_Protect_Journalists⠀⇛ The Committee to Protect Journalists joined a delegation in Slovakia on Tuesday marking the fifth anniversary of the murder of Slovak investigative journalist, Ján Kuciak. The organizations renewed calls for full justice for Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová who were both killed five years ago today, on 21 February 2018, and called on the authorities to redouble efforts to improve press freedom. o § Civil Rights/Policing⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ UN_torture_body_abandons_attempts_to_inspect Australian_detention_sites⠀⇛ A United Nations body committed to preventing torture has terminated its review of Australian places of detention after authorities in some states refused to let them in — joining Rwanda as the only other country where a visit has been terminated. # ⚓ Axios ☛ Companies_can’t_enforce_silence_for_severance_pay, Labor_Board_rules⠀⇛ Companies can no longer offer severance agreements that prevent employees from making disparaging remarks about their former employer, the National Labor_Relations_Board ruled Tuesday. o § Internet Policy/Net Neutrality⠀➾ # ⚓ CNN ☛ What_is_the_future_of_the_internet?_Don’t_ask_the_US Supreme_Court⠀⇛ Nine justices set out Tuesday to determine what the future of the internet would look like if the Supreme Court were to narrow the scope of a law that some believe created the age of modern social media. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Supreme_Court_Weighs_Tech_Company Protections_in_Google_Case⠀⇛ The case, concerning a law that gives websites immunity for suits based on their users’ posts, has the potential to alter the very structure of the internet. # ⚓ RIPE ☛ Plug_and_Plot:_Reusable_Visualisations_for_AS- Hegemony_Data⠀⇛ Networks connected to the Internet rely on other networks – a.k.a, Autonomous Systems, or ASes – to transmit data. Consequently, the connectivity of a network depends on the connectivity of other networks. AS Hegemony is a metric to evaluate these interdependencies based on BGP data collected from public large-scale measurement platforms (RIPE RIS and Route Views). For example, the dependencies of AS2497 (IIJ Internet Initiative Japan Inc., JP) and the networks dependent on AS2497 for 3 February 2023 can be seen in the following figure. o § Monopolies⠀➾ # § Patents⠀➾ # ⚓ Florian Müller ☛ Gradually_refocusing_FOSS_Patents_on patents_WHILE_exploring_alternatives_for_antitrust analysis_and_commentary [Ed: So what's the point putting "FOSS" in the blog name? Misleading.]⠀⇛ # ⚓ IP Kat ☛ Highlights_from_the_new_EPO_Guidelines_for Examination_2023:_Erroneous_parts,_UPC_and_sequence listings [Ed: Voice of AstraZeneca; Last year IPKat wrote less than one blog post per day -- an all-time low]⠀⇛ # ⚓ Webinar_on_Unified_Patent_Court [Ed: Webinar on something that does not exist and isn't legal]⠀⇛ * § Gemini* and Gopher⠀➾ o § Personal⠀➾ # ⚓ I_guess_now_Bunny_can_add_“upholsterer”_to_her_list_of hobbies⠀⇛ A few weeks ago, the top arm coverings of my office chair basically crumbled and fell off. [Picture of a chair with arms, but the arms are missing a cover.] Black always makes things slimmer. Only in this case, it is slimmer without the rubber covering. [1]… The old coverings were some combination of rubber and plastic and I guess over time, they just became brittle or dried out, and fell apart. This exposed the underlying hard plastic frame underneath. It wouldn’t be that bad actually, except for all the square holes, used to both lessen the amount of hard plastic required, and to give the old covers something to grip onto. o § Technical⠀➾ # ⚓ a_linguistic_ux⠀⇛ tomo is an exocortex not a platform in itself, but a tool for creating fleeting shared experiences using whatever systems are available at the moment. always adapting to the new environment. i’ve been putting together a “vision board” for a linguistic UX concept i’ve been kicking around. i haven’t gotten around to digitizing my own recent sketches, but this is a little sample of my influences and a repo of any old sketches i come by before i get around to the digitizing stuff. # ⚓ Exploring_IRC_Again⠀⇛ I’ve recently been getting back into IRC and found a pretty neat project in the process. I first checked out IRC not long ago and one reason it stood out was its simplicity. Well, at the protocol level at least. Some of the clients I tried were slightly confusing and took some time to configure and get used to. But I liked the idea that when you weren’t online, you were well and truly disconnected. Push notifications have their place, but they sort of make it too easy to be always available which I don’t think is that healthy. The main problem with IRC I felt at the time was that when you reconnect, most of the time you have no context for what’s been going on in the channel while you were away. I learned about bouncers, which are a sort of middleman you can set up between you and the server which keeps your session alive while you’re disconnected, but wasn’t really interested in getting one set up. =============================================================================== * Gemini_(Primer) links can be opened using Gemini_software. It’s like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter. ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 4704 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 02.22.23⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ Gemini_version_available_♊︎ ✐ Links_22/02/2023:_KDE_Plasma_5.27.1_and_New_Fears_Over_Nukes⠀✐ Posted in News_Roundup at 9:38 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GNOME bluefish⦈ § Contents⠀➾ * GNU/Linux o Server o Audiocasts/Shows o Kernel_Space o Applications o Instructionals/Technical o Games o Desktop_Environments/WMs # K_Desktop_Environment/KDE_SC/Qt * Distributions_and_Operating_Systems o Canonical/Ubuntu_Family o Open_Hardware/Modding o Mobile_Systems/Mobile_Applications * Free,_Libre,_and_Open_Source_Software o Events o Programming/Development * Leftovers o Science o Education o Hardware o Health/Nutrition/Agriculture o Proprietary o Security # Privacy/Surveillance # Confidentiality o Defence/Aggression o Environment # Energy/Transportation # Wildlife/Nature o Finance o AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics o Censorship/Free_Speech o Freedom_of_Information_/_Freedom_of_the_Press o Civil_Rights/Policing o Internet_Policy/Net_Neutrality o Monopolies # Patents # Copyrights * Gemini*_and_Gopher o Personal o Politics o Technical # Internet/Gemini # Programming * § GNU/Linux⠀➾ o ⚓ Unix Men ☛ Risks_to_Consider_When_Using_Linux⠀⇛ Linux is a free and open-source operating system that’s popular among developers, businesses, and individuals. The flexibility and customizability of Linux make it an excellent choice for those looking for more control over their computer systems. However, like any other operating system, using Linux comes with some risks. This article will discuss the risks associated with using Linux and how to create a Linux risk register for managing the risks you face when using Linux. o § Server⠀➾ # ⚓ Container Journal ☛ Agility_Vs._Complexity_in_Cloud-Native Applications⠀⇛ One of the main motivations for using cloud-native application methodologies is to simplify our applications and their infrastructures. Cloud- native methodologies are designed around creating larger and more sophisticated applications without unnecessarily increasing application complexity. And central to everything is agility. o § Audiocasts/Shows⠀➾ # ⚓ Unicorn Media ☛ Top_Four_Takaways_From_My_Appearance_on_Doc Searls’_‘FLOSS_Weekly’_Podcast⠀⇛ In case you don’t know, about a month ago I was on FLOSS Weekly, a weekly podcast hosted by Doc Searls, which was really a lot of fun. I’d never met Searls, virtually or otherwise, but it turns out that we have a scary number of things in common. The co-host for the show was Simon Phipps, who I’ve known virtually for a while. Neither Searls nor Phipps should need any introduction to followers of Linux and open-source. Among other things, Phipps is currently standards and policy director at Open Source Initiative, where he’s also served as president, and is also a board member at AlmaLinux. o § Kernel Space⠀➾ # ⚓ LWN ☛ Linux_6.1.13⠀⇛ I'm announcing the release of the 6.1.13 kernel. All users of the 6.1 kernel series must upgrade. The updated 6.1.y git tree can be found at: git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/ git/stable/linux-stable.git linux-6.1.y and can be browsed at the normal kernel.org git web browser: https://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/ linux-s... thanks, greg k-h # ⚓ LWN ☛ Linux_5.15.95⠀⇛ # ⚓ LWN ☛ Linux_5.10.169⠀⇛ # ⚓ LWN ☛ Linux_5.4.232⠀⇛ # ⚓ LWN ☛ Linux_4.19.273⠀⇛ # ⚓ LWN ☛ Linux_4.14.306⠀⇛ # ⚓ Collabora ☛ Kernel_6.2:_More_Rust_support_for_drivers⠀⇛ With more SoC support, a new V4L2 driver and a new dma-buf locking convention among its contributions, Collabora was one of the most active employers for this latest kernel development cycle. o § Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ Linux Links ☛ Machine_Learning_in_Linux:_Real-ESRGAN_– image_and_video_restoration_software⠀⇛ This series looks at highly promising machine learning and deep learning software for Linux. We’ll cover a wide range of applications of this technology. The first article in the series looked at GFPGAN, deep learning software for real-world face restoration. Real-ESRGAN and GFPGAN have been integrated with each other, but they are also individual projects from the same developer. Real- ESRGAN is a project that aims to create practical algorithms for general image/video restoration as opposed to face restoration. # ⚓ 9to5Linux ☛ Darktable_4.2.1_Brings_Support_for_New_Cameras, Better_Support_for_Fujifilm’s_RAF⠀⇛ In darktable 4.2.1, the devs implemented a new way to identify JPEG images by using magic bytes instead of file extensions so that they won’t end up in files with unexpected extensions, a collapsible section to the sigmoid module so that unused controls in standard processing scenarios are hidden by default, and the ability to assign shortcuts to the “quick access” style and preset menus. This release also brings some minor updates to image overlays in the culling view so that they are less intrusive, properly honors the “hide histogram” setting when restarting the app, and ensures that wide pop-ups are correctly displayed on the same monitor as the associated widget. o § Instructionals/Technical⠀➾ # ⚓ ID Root ☛ How_To_Install_MySQL_on_Fedora_37⠀⇛ In this tutorial, we will show you how to install MySQL on Fedora 37. For those of you who didn’t know, MySQL is a popular and widely-used open- source relational database management system (RDBMS) that is used by many web-based applications … # ⚓ UNIX Cop ☛ How_to_install_KeeWeb_Password_Manager_on Ubuntu⠀⇛ KeeWeb is a password manager that can be used on any platform and is compatible with KeePass. It allows for safe storage of both online and offline passwords and can be synced with file storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. # ⚓ UNIX Cop ☛ RESTful_Tomcat_Application⠀⇛ Introduction Web services: Tomcat can also be used to host web services built using technologies such as SOAP or RESTful api. This allows developers to expose their web services to other applications and integrate them into larger systems. # ⚓ UNIX Cop ☛ High_Availability_Storage_with_Pacemaker⠀⇛ Introduction High Availability Storage with Pacemaker is a solution for ensuring that critical data and applications remain available and accessible even in the event of hardware failures or other disruptions. # ⚓ UNIX Cop ☛ How_To_Install_Java_and_Java_SE_Development_Kit on_AlmaLinux_9⠀⇛ Today, you will learn how To Install Java and Java SE Development Kit on AlmaLinux 9 # ⚓ FOSSLinux ☛ Iptables_and_logging:_How_to_monitor_network traffic⠀⇛ In today’s digital age, monitoring network traffic has become increasingly crucial for businesses and individuals. With the rise of cyber threats and attacks, being able to keep an eye on your network traffic can help you detect potential security breaches before they become a major problem. In this article, we’ll discuss using iptables to monitor and log network traffic for analysis. # ⚓ Linux Capable ☛ How_to_Install_7-Zip_on_Manjaro_Linux⠀⇛ 7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver software developed by Igor Pavlov in 1999. It has gained popularity over the years as one of the best compression software due to its high compression ratio and support for a wide range of archive file formats. # ⚓ Linux Capable ☛ How_to_Upgrade_Apache_on_Ubuntu_22.04_or 20.04⠀⇛ If you are currently running Ubuntu LTS, your version of Apache is probably not the latest stable release from the Apache Foundation. # ⚓ Linux Capable ☛ How_to_Install_Git_on_Rocky_Linux_EL9_or EL8⠀⇛ Git is a free and open-source distributed version control system that tracks source code changes during software development. # ⚓ Make Tech Easier ☛ 8_Simple_Ways_to_Securely_Delete_Files in_Linux⠀⇛ We have seen how to fully erase_the_contents of your hard disk, but what happens if all you want is to permanently delete one, two or a dozen files? This guide shows you some of the most popular solutions for complete file deletion in Linux. o § Games⠀➾ # ⚓ Boiling Steam ☛ How_to_Upgrade_Your_64GB_Steam_Deck’s Storage_Capacity_Now_to_512GB_for_Just_$60⠀⇛ # ⚓ Godot Engine ☛ Release_candidate:_Godot_4.0_RC_3⠀⇛ We’re almost ready to release Godot 4.0! Barring any last minute critical regression, this RC should reflect what the 4.0-stable release will be. # ⚓ Kifarunix ☛ Utilising_FOSS_in_Video_Game_Development⠀⇛ In recent years, the utilisation of Free and Open- Source Software (FOSS) has gained significant popularity within the gaming industry. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Let_Machine_Learning_Code_An_Infinite_Variety_Of Pong_Games⠀⇛ In a very real way, Pong started the video game revolution. You wouldn’t have thought so at the time, with its simple gameplay, rudimentary controls, some very low-end sounds, and a cannibalized TV for a display, but the legendarily stuffed coinboxes tell the tale. Fast forward 50 years or so, and Pong has been largely reduced to a programmer’s exercise to see how few lines of code can stand in for what [Ted Dabney] and [Allan Alcorn] accomplished. But now even that’s too much, as OpenAI Codex can generate a playable Pong from just a few prompts, at least most of the time. o § Desktop Environments/WMs⠀➾ # § K Desktop Environment/KDE SC/Qt⠀➾ # ⚓ 9to5Linux ☛ KDE_Plasma_5.27.1_Improves_Support_for Wine_Games_in_Plasma_Wayland,_Fixes_Bugs⠀⇛  KDE Plasma 5.27.1 comes just a week after the release of KDE Plasma 5.27 LTS to further improve your Plasma desktop experience, especially when playing video games through Wine on the Plasma Wayland session as the mouse cursor will no longer disappear when it touches the bottom or right screen edge when using a graphics card that does not support atomic mode-setting. This first KDE Plasma 5.27 point release also brings support for the latest NetworkManager 1.42 network connection management tool so that the Plasma-NM (NetworkManager) widget no longer displays the redundant loopback interface. * § Distributions and Operating Systems⠀➾ o § Canonical/Ubuntu Family⠀➾ # ⚓ 9to5Linux ☛ Canonical:_Future_Ubuntu_Releases_Won’t_Support Flatpak_by_Default⠀⇛ Canonical, the maker of Ubuntu, announced that future Ubuntu releases (including official flavors) will not include support for the Flatpak sandboxed binary format by default, starting with Ubuntu 23.04. This should not come as a surprise for anyone as Ubuntu, like many other popular GNU/Linux distributions out there, didn’t offer support for the Flatpak binary format by default. Those who wish to install Flatpak apps will need to manually install the Flatpak Runtime by following the instructions on the official website. # ⚓ HowTo Geek ☛ Kubuntu,_Lubuntu,_and_Other_Ubuntu_Flavors_Are Making_a_Big_Change⠀⇛ Canonical is the primary company behind Ubuntu Linux, but it also develops the Snap format, a container and distribution technology for Linux applications. Snap has proven controversial in the Linux ecosystem, thanks to its centralized design and occasional poor performance. Beyond the reach of Ubuntu, its primary competitor is Flatpak, which many Linux distributions install by default — sometimes alongside Snap, and other times instead of Snap. Some Linux desktops have pushed back harder against Snap, like Linux Mint working directly with Mozilla to offer a non-Snap version of the Firefox browser. # ⚓ Ubuntu Pit ☛ A_New_Era_for_Ubuntu_Flavors:_Snap_Takes_the Lead_(No_More_Flatpak_by_Default)⠀⇛ When Flatpak portable packages emerged in the Linux space, Canonical quickly followed with their own version – Snaps. Both formats provide a dependable and efficient solution for creating portable bundles. Flatpaks have traditionally been centered around desktop software, offering access to various repositories and being more compatible across multiple platforms. On the other hand, Snap packages are focused on providing both server and desktop applications from a single repository managed by Canonical. Additionally, these packages will only run on Linux distributions that utilize systemd init implementations. o § Open Hardware/Modding⠀➾ # ⚓ The Register UK ☛ Puri.sm_puts_out_LapDock_for_its_Librem_5 smartphone ⠀⇛ Puri.sm has sold all-FOSS laptops for almost a decade. In 2021, we covered its new Linux-based smartphone, the Librem 5. Last year, its founder and CEO talked to The Reg and explained about its hardware and software. The enabling technology here is that the Librem smartphones and laptops run very closely-related OSes. If you don’t read the company’s description closely enough, you might be forgiven for coming away with the impression that it’s the same OS: the company’s in-house Linux distro, PureOS, which you can download and run on your own PC. That distro, PureOS, is an x86-64 distro for PC- compatibles, whereas the phone has a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 i.MX8M SoC. So, at the very least, there are two editions of the distro: an x86-64 one for generic PCs, and an Arm one for the Librem phone. As far as we can tell, the Arm edition of the OS doesn’t run on any other vendors’ devices. # ⚓ How_to_Automate_Watering_of_Plants_With_Arduino_(and_Keep Your_Plants_Healthy)⠀⇛ Do you enjoy healthy plants, but would like to automate the watering of them? Here we show you how to accurately measure the soil’s moisture level, and automate the watering of them to keep your plants healthy. What You Need to Automate Your Plant Watering 1. Arduino You will need a microcontroller such as the Arduino Uno. A microcontroller is a good tool for repetitive tasks, where a single board computer such as a Raspberry Pi would be overkill in terms of computing power. # ⚓ dwaves.de ☛ the_future_are_RISC(V)_(ARM)_CPUs_–_RK3588_is 3.04x_in_single-core_and_3.65x_in_multi-core_faster_than Raspberry_4_(geekbench.com)⠀⇛ some users laugh about other users meassuring the power usage of devices. o § Mobile Systems/Mobile Applications⠀➾ # ⚓ 9to5Google ☛ Google_Maps_can_now_open_while_Android_Auto_is running⠀⇛ # ⚓ CyberRisk Alliance LLC ☛ Google_bolsters_firmware_security for_Android_|_SC_Media⠀⇛ # ⚓ 9to5Google ☛ Google_says_users_like_Android’s_new Predictive_Back_Gesture⠀⇛ # ⚓ TechCrunch ☛ Stripe_expands_Tap_to_Pay_to_Android,_turning NFC-enabled_Android_devices_into_payment_terminals_| TechCrunch⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android Police ☛ Android_13_QPR2_Beta_3.2_arrives_with_some crucial_Pixel_display_fixes⠀⇛ # ⚓ 9to5Google ☛ Android_13_QPR2_Beta_3.2_rolling_out_for_Pixel with_Jio_5G_enabled⠀⇛ # ⚓ Nokia Power User ☛ Nokia_G10_now_confirmed_to_be_Android_13 compatible_–_Nokiapoweruser⠀⇛ # ⚓ CBS ☛ Best_Android_phones_in_2023_–_CBS_News⠀⇛ # ⚓ PR Newswire ☛ Vuzix_Announces_Android_11_Support_for_Its Latest_Portfolio_of_Enterprise_Smart_Glasses⠀⇛ # ⚓ Daily Star ☛ ‘Tiny’_indicator_on_Android_phones_that_lets you_know_if_you’re_being_spied_on_–_Daily_Star⠀⇛ # ⚓ The Sun ☛ Google_has_‘hidden’_upgrade_inside_all_Android phones_–_unlocking_it_makes_long_list_of_free_improvements_| The_US_Sun⠀⇛ # ⚓ The Sun ☛ People_are_just_realizing_Android_secret_volume trick_solves_one_of_your_phone’s_biggest_problems_|_The_US Sun⠀⇛ # ⚓ Phone Arena ☛ Google_to_bring_enhanced_firmware_safety_to your_Android_phone_–_PhoneArena⠀⇛ # ⚓ Google’s_Privacy_Sandbox_is_Coming_Soon_for_Android_Phones –_Phandroid⠀⇛ # ⚓ India Today ☛ Samsung_Galaxy_S23_Ultra_review:_A_complete Android_phone_–_India_Today⠀⇛ # ⚓ Tom’s Guide ☛ 15_hidden_Android_features_you_should_be using_|_Tom’s_Guide⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android Police ☛ Google_is_making_your_Android_phone_safer with_hardened_firmware⠀⇛ # ⚓ Android Authority ☛ Android’s_new_Fast_Pair_phone_setup_is awesome_on_the_Galaxy_S23⠀⇛ * § Free, Libre, and Open Source Software⠀➾ o ⚓ OSI Blog ☛ How_OSI_will_renew_its_board_of_directors_in_2023 [Ed: OSI will still work for Microsoft and promote proprietary software that violates the GPL. Nowadays the purpose of OSI seems to be bagging money from companies like Microsoft to help pay a salary or two; it's not protecting the brand or the mission.]⠀⇛ The OSI board of directors will renew three of its seats with an open election process among its full individual members and affiliates. o § Events⠀➾ # ⚓ PostgreSQL ☛ PostgreSQL@SCaLE20x:_the_schedule_is_up!⠀⇛ PostgreSQL(at)SCaLE is a two day, two track event that takes place on Thursday-Friday March 9-10, 2023, in Pasadena, California, at the Pasadena Convention Center as part of SCaLE_20x. o § Programming/Development⠀➾ # ⚓ Rlang ☛ xts_0.13.0_on_CRAN⠀⇛ An updated version of xts is now on CRAN. # ⚓ DEV Community ☛ Billy_Warren:_A_straight_Guide_to_Salsa_CI –_A_Debian_Continuous_Integration_tool⠀⇛ I won’t waste your time with introductions. The title says it all so let’s jump right in. I’ll give you as many links as possible so that this article stays as short as possible. So first, what is Salsa? Salsa is a name of a GitLab instance that is used by Debian teams to manage Debian packages and also collaborate on Development. If you have used GitLab before, the Salsa platform is not any different. To have a feel of it, it is available at https://salsa.debian.org. Still, want to know more? Find more information in the wiki. Intrigued to a point of getting started? Setup up your account by following this_information * § Leftovers⠀➾ o ⚓ Quartz ☛ It_may_be_time_to_drop_all_your_meetings⠀⇛ o ⚓ uni Michigan ☛ The_internet’s_favorite_stalker_goes_abroad⠀⇛ Hello, you. I see you, scouring The Michigan Daily Arts section, looking for your new favorite TV show to watch. You probably saw this headline and a familiar face and let out a little gasp of excitement. “It can’t be,” you think. “Is he really back?” You better believe it.  o ⚓ MIT Technology Review ☛ No_humans_allowed⠀⇛ The Z Center held its second annual dog swim in December just before draining the pool for maintenance. o ⚓ Mint Press News ☛ Amid_Rubble_and_Tears,_a_Glimmer_of_Hope:_The Real_Heroes_in_Syria_and_Türkiye⠀⇛ Amidst the tragedy of the devastating earthquake in Syria and Türkiye, the heroism of those who save lives and offer support amid unimaginable odds serves as a reminder of the abundant humanity so often overlooked in the region. o ⚓ Hackaday ☛ YouTube_As_Infinite_File_Storage⠀⇛ Anyone who was lucky enough to secure a Gmail invite back in early 2004 would have gasped in wonder at the storage on offer, a whole gigabyte! Nearly two decades later there’s more storage to be had for free from Google and its competitors, but it’s still relatively easy to hit the paid tier. Consider this though, how about YouTube as an infinite cloud storage medium? o ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ True_Champions_of_Humanity_in_Türkiye_and_Syria: We_Thank_You⠀⇛ On February 7, a funeral was held in the northern Syrian town of Jinderis. It was one of numerous such funerals to be held on that day across Syria and Türkiye, following a devastating earthquake that killed and injured thousands. Each one of these funerals represented two seemingly opposite notions: collective grief and collective hope. The Jinderis funeral was a stark representation of this dichotomy. o ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Aldo_Leopold_for_Our_Time⠀⇛ One could tick off details about Aldo Leopold’s life—born January 11, 1887, in Burlington, Iowa; educated as a forester at Yale; worked for the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico and Arizona for roughly two decades; married Estella Bergere in October of 1912; accepted an appointment to the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1924; and, in 1935, came into possession of “the shack,” near Baraboo, along the Wisconsin River, a place that figures as a hub in A Sand County Almanac, and on which property he died, of an apparent heart attack, while fighting a grass fire on April 21, 1948. Leopold was 62 years old, famous and revered in some conservation circles, reviled in others. He was buried in Burlington. Curt Meine’s biography (Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work)—over 500 pages of text, not counting notes, bibliography, and index—is a slow-read page turner. It’s slow because it’s so packed with vivid information and insights. It’s a page turner for the same reasons—not only Leopold’s interesting life but also the multifaceted conservation movement in America from the late nineteenth-century until the time of his death. o § Science⠀➾ # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ There_Might_Be_a_Simple_Reason_We_Haven’t Found_Life_on_Mars⠀⇛ … yet. # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ After_a_20-Year_Search,_Scientists_Have Finally_Found_Earth’s_True_Innermost_Core⠀⇛ This is huge. # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ New_NASA_Images_Reveal_the_Grim_State_of_China’s Mars_Rover⠀⇛ China’s Zhurong rover appears to still be snoozing since entering into hibernation mode a little less than a year ago. The Chinese robot was supposed to wake up in December but recent images captured by a NASA orbiter reveal that the rover hasn’t moved from its position on the Martian surface for months. # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Mercury_Floats_in_Front_of_the_Sun_in_New_Images From_the_Solar_Orbiter⠀⇛ On January 3, the Solar Orbiter spotted Mercury passing in front of the Sun. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Roskosmos_Says_Russian_Spacecraft_Leak_Caused_By External_Impact⠀⇛ A coolant leak from an uncrewed Russian supply ship docked at the International Space Station resulted from an external impact and not a manufacturing flaw, Russia’s space corporation said on February 21. # ⚓ Vice Media Group ☛ There’s_Another_Core_Within_Earth’s Core,_Scientists_Discover⠀⇛ The innermost inner core (IMIC) “could be a fossilized record of a significant global event from the past,” scientists say. # ⚓ Vice Media Group ☛ Japanese_Officials_Investigate Mysterious_Sphere_That_Washed_Up_on_Beach⠀⇛ Officials blocked off a 200-meter radius to investigate the sphere, which closely resembles a metal buoy, but have not determined what it is. o § Education⠀➾ # ⚓ Chronicle Of Higher Education ☛ Slamming_the_Door_on Scholarship⠀⇛ War and politics could make on-the-ground study of China and Russia difficult, if not impossible. o § Hardware⠀➾ # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ 3D_Printing_Antennas_With_Dielectric_Resin⠀⇛ [Machining and Microwaves] has long wanted to use a 3D printer to print RF components for antennas and microwave lenses. He heard that Rogers — the company known for making PCB substrates, among other things — had a dielectric resin available and asked them if he could try some. They agreed, with some stipulations, including that he had to visit their facility and show his designs in a video. Because of that, the video seems a little bit like a commercial, but we think he is genuinely excited about the possibility of the resin. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Retro_Gadgets:_Make_Your_Scope_Dual_Channel⠀⇛ We live in a time when having an oscilloscope is only a minor luxury. But for many decades, a good scope was a major expense, and almost no hobbyist had a brand new one unless it was of very poor quality. Scopes were big and heavy and, at the price most people were willing to pay, only had a single channel. Granted, having one channel is better than having nothing. But if the relative benefit of having a single channel scope is 10 points, the benefit of having two channels is easily at least 100 points. So what was a poor hacker to do when a dual-trace or higher scope cost too much? Why, hack, of course. There were many designs that would convert a single trace scope into a poor-quality multichannel scope. Heathkit made several of these over the years like the ID- 22, the ID-101, and the ID-4101. They called them “electronic switches.” The S-2 and S-3 were even earlier models, but the idea wasn’t unique to Heathkit and had been around for some time. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ OpenStructures_Is_A_Modular_Building_System_For The_RepRap_Age⠀⇛ Modular construction toys like LEGO and Meccano are great for prototyping, but they aren’t so great for large builds. OpenStructures promises to be a modular building system for projects large and small. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Travel_The_World_Looking_For_Retro_Tech, Virtually⠀⇛ For those who have a passion for vintage hardware, whether it be a classic computer or a war-surplus ham radio rig, finding the things without resorting to paying shipping fees on eBay can sometimes be tricky. Your best bet is to find a local fair or swap event, but it always seems they’re the kind of thing you find out about the weekend after they were held. o § Health/Nutrition/Agriculture⠀➾ # ⚓ The Scientist ☛ Gut_Microbiomes_Offer_Insights_into_Chronic Fatigue_Syndrome⠀⇛ Levels of health-promoting gut bacteria are linked with severity of fatigue symptoms, a study finds. # ⚓ The Scientist ☛ Science_Falls_Behind_as_Syphilis_Stages Another_Comeback⠀⇛ Syphilis is among the oldest known sexually- transmitted infections. Scientists still struggle to detect and treat it. # ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Did_Five_Supreme_Court_Justices_Lie_to Congress_About_Abortion_Views?⠀⇛ The Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, issued last year, overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), and dismantled the federal constitutional right to abortion. One of the lingering questions in the aftermath of Dobbs is whether any of the five justices who voted to take that drastic step lied about their views on abortion during their respective confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Newsom,_19_Other_Governors,_Form_Alliance_to Combat_Anti-Abortion_Efforts⠀⇛ # ⚓ MIT Technology Review ☛ Tackling_Earth’s_tremors_and cancerous_tumors⠀⇛ Forecasting earthquakes is complex, relying on specialized analysis of minute signals from the Earth’s crust. Cancer treatment is also a highly complex field, involving thousands of researchers and billions of dollars worldwide. Either would be enough to fill the waking hours of any scientist. # ⚓ MIT Technology Review ☛ Why_this_stroke_survivor_biked 4,500_miles_across_the_US⠀⇛ After a stroke in 2010, Debra Meyerson ’79, SM ’80, was paralyzed on the right side of her body and needed months of speech therapy before she was able to produce even the simplest of words. Today, she’s speaking out about stroke recovery—especially the mental health and emotional aspects of healing, which she says don’t… # ⚓ teleSUR ☛ Limits_on_Fruit_and_Vegetable_Sales_in_Some_UK Supermarkets⠀⇛ The country faces supply issues due to adverse weather conditions in Southern Europe and North Africa. # ⚓ CNN ☛ UK_supermarkets_Tesco,_Aldi_and_Asda_are_rationing fruit_and_salad_vegetables⠀⇛ # ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Democratic_Governors_Form_Reproductive Freedom_‘Firewall’_to_Protect_Access⠀⇛ Days before a right-wing federal judge is expected to hand down a major ruling regarding the legality of medication abortion, the Democratic governors of 20 states announced an alliance to protect access for their constituents and strengthen the ability of people in anti-abortion states to get care. # ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ EPA_Orders_Norfolk_Southern_to_Clean_Up Contamination_From_Ohio_Train_Crash⠀⇛ The EPA issued a legally binding order to the company, requiring it to identify and clean up contaminated soil and water, reimburse the agency for cleaning services that will be offered throughout the town to give residents peace of mind regarding the safety of air and drinking water, attend public meetings, and pay for the costs the EPA incurs during the cleanup. # ⚓ Quartz ☛ The_EPA_has_ordered_Norfolk_Southern_to_pay_for all_clean_up_costs_at_the_Ohio_derailment_site⠀⇛ Federal regulators from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the toxic chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio. # ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ EPA_orders_Norfolk_Southern_to_clean up_toxic_derailment⠀⇛ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Norfolk Southern to pay for cleanup of the East Palestine, Ohio, train wreck and chemical release. The order came Tuesday as federal regulators took charge of long-term recovery efforts. The EPA warned Norfolk Southern that if it failed to comply, the agency would perform the work itself and seek triple damages from the company. Norfolk Southern’s CEO promised to do what’s necessary to ensure the community’s long-term health. The developments came nearly three weeks after more than three dozen freight cars — including 11 carrying hazardous materials — derailed, prompting an evacuation and the intentional release and burn-off of toxic vinyl chloride in five of the rail cars. # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Ohio_Train_Latest:_Clinic_Opens_for_Residents_and EPA_Demands_Payment⠀⇛ Ohio’s Health Department is opening clinic today to address growing health concerns from East Palestine residents after this month’s toxic train derailment.< # ⚓ JURIST ☛ US_Department_of_Transportation,_EPA_urge_actions to_ensure_safety_following_Ohio_train_derailment⠀⇛ US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Tuesday called on railway transport company Norfolk Southern to comply with safety regulations and announced steps the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) will take to ensure railway industry safety and accountability. T # ⚓ RFA ☛ Myanmar_junta’s_confiscation_of_food,_medicine_leaves Kayah_state_residents_at_risk⠀⇛ Soldiers are aggressively patrolling checkpoints along major roadways for the goods. # ⚓ RFA ☛ Cambodia_PM_Hun_Sen_says_doctors_tell_him_he’s prediabetic⠀⇛ The 70-year-old strongman has previously boasted about his good health. # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ EPA_Orders_Norfolk_Southern_to_Pay_for_Cleanup of_East_Palestine_Train_Disaster⠀⇛ # ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Rail_Unions_Warned_Us:_Greed_is_Dangerous⠀⇛ The toxic clouds that billowed up from a derailed freight train in Ohio earlier this month are a chilling metaphor for the toxic greed that has infected so many of our big corporations. After having to evacuate, residents of the town near the derailment are cautiously going back home, but they still don’t know the full extent of the damage to the area’s environment and public health. # ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ ‘Too_Many_Holes’:_Rail_Workers_Say Buttigieg_Plan_of_Action_Is_Not_Enough⠀⇛ U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s newly unveiled plan to improve railroad safety is inadequate, an inter-union alliance of rail workers declared Tuesday. # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Report:_Credit_Scores_Are_Lower_in_the_South, and_Medical_Debt_Could_Be_to_Blame⠀⇛ # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Two_Stroke_Survivors_Move_Their_Hands_Again After_Experimental_Therapy⠀⇛ “Feels like a tickle”. # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Scientists_Witness_The_‘Tipping_Point’_of Alzheimer’s_in_The_Lab_For_The_First_Time⠀⇛ Watching the roots take hold. # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Companies_Decide_to_Keep_Four-Day_Workweek_After Finding_It’s_Better⠀⇛ According to an ongoing study in the UK, the four- day workweek may be the key to success for companies and their employees. The world’s biggest four-day workweek trial included the participation of 61 British companies, some of whom now say they won’t return to the regular Monday through Friday work schedule. # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Working_Just_Four_Days_a_Week_Could_Give Many_of_Us_a_Better_Night’s_Sleep⠀⇛ Employers also saw benefits. # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Another_Person_Cured_of_HIV_After_Stem_Cell Transplant⠀⇛ A fifth known person has likely been cured of HIV following a specialized stem cell transplant. According to the man’s doctors, he has lived essentially free of the virus for about a decade. # ⚓ NYPost ☛ Why_America_needs_a_COVID_truth_commission⠀⇛ The American people deserve a similar bipartisan, scientifically minded COVID-19 commission so the public-health disaster of the past three years is not repeated. # ⚓ Off Guardian ☛ WATCH:_WHO’s_Sordid_History_of_So-Called Pandemics⠀⇛ Meryl Nass interviews James Corbett for CHD.tv. Following on their previous discussions, they interpret recently drafted amendments to the International Health Regulations for future pandemics. o § Proprietary⠀➾ # ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Tumblr’s_Blue_Checkmark_Parody_Actually_Made_Them Money⠀⇛ Tumblr created a shakeup in the digital world this week when it reported an 125% revenue increase from iOS in-app purchases—from what seemingly started out as a simple parody. o § Security⠀➾ # ⚓ Dark Reading ☛ US_Military_Emails_Exposed_via_Cloud Account⠀⇛ # ⚓ Vice Media Group ☛ Hacker_Breaches_Activision_Slack,_Steals Call_of_Duty_Info [Ed: Slack is adopted by companies that are failing on security. Slack itself suffers security breaches.]⠀⇛ Screenshots show how a hacker tricked an Activision worker into providing a two-factor authentication token. # ⚓ TechCrunch ☛ Activision_did_not_notify_employees_of_data breach_for_months⠀⇛ On December 4, hackers successfully phished an employee at the games giant Activision, gaining access to some internal employee and game data. This data breach was not disclosed until last weekend, when cybersecurity and malware research group vx-underground posted on Twitter screenshots of the stolen data, as well as the hackers’ messages on Activision’s internal Slack channel. But the public weren’t the only ones caught off guard by news of the breach. Activision has yet to notify its own employees of the data breach, and whether their data was stolen, according to two current Activision employees who spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not allowed to talk to the press. # ⚓ InfoQ ☛ Version_0.34.0_of_Falco,_an_Open_Source_Runtime Security_Tool_was_Recently_Released⠀⇛ Falco, an open-source runtime security tool recently announced their latest release version 0.34.0. Highlights of the latest release include support for older RHEL distros, the ability to download and update Falco rules at runtime, and the experimental release of a modern eBPF probe. # ⚓ Security Week ☛ VMware_Plugs_Critical_Carbon_Black_App Control_Flaw⠀⇛ VMware issues a critical fix for a vulnerability that allows hacker to gain full access to the underlying server operating system. ⚓ Security Week ☛ Enterprise_Blind_Spots_and_Obsolete_Tools_–_Security_Teams Must_Evolve⠀⇛ The conventional tools we rely on to defend corporate networks are creating gaps in network visibility and in our capabilities to secure them. ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ A_DNA_Testing_Company_Forgot_About_2.1_Million_People’s_Data._Then It_Leaked.⠀⇛ A prominent DNA testing firm has settled a pair of lawsuits with the attorney generals of Pennsylvania and Ohio after a 2021 episode that saw cybercriminals steal data on 2.1 million people, including the social security numbers of 45,000 customers from both states. ⚓ Silicon Angle ☛ New_‘Stealc’_information-stealing_malware_grows_in_popularity on_dark_web⠀⇛ Cybersecurity researchers today detailed recently discovered information-stealing malware that is rapidly growing in popularity on dark web marketplaces. ⚓ USCERT ☛ CISA_Adds_Three_Known_Exploited_Vulnerabilities_to_Catalog⠀⇛ CISA has added three new vulnerabilities to its Known_Exploited Vulnerabilities_Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. * CVE-2022-47986 IBM Aspera Faspex Code Execution Vulnerability * CVE-2022-41223 Mitel MiVoice Connect Code Injection Vulnerability * CVE-2022-40765 Mitel MiVoice Connect Command Injection Vulnerability ⚓ USCERT ☛ CISA_Releases_Two_Industrial_Control_Systems_Advisories⠀⇛ CISA encourages users and administrators to review the newly released ICS advisories for technical details and mitigations: * ICSA-23-052-01 Mitsubishi_Electric_MELSOFT_iQ_AppPortal * ICSMA-21-187-01 Philips_Vue_PACS_(Update_C)   ⚓ Helsinki Times ☛ Watch_out_for_scams_posing_as_the_Kanta_Services_and_My Kanta_Pages!⠀⇛ There are a lot of scam messages in circulation at the moment as criminals try to access Finnish personal data. The Kanta Services will never contact users by email or text message to ask for their information. The only way to log in securely to the My Kanta Pages is to go to www.kanta.fi At present there is an unusual number of scam messages in circulation claiming to be from the Kanta Services and trying to access people’s personal data. ⚓ CNA ☛ Singapore_data_centre_says_no_data_loss_discovered_after_report_on hackers_obtaining_logins⠀⇛ Data centre operator ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) has noticed no data loss or impact to its customer service portals following a hacking incident in 2021, it said on Tuesday (Feb 21). Through unspecified means, the hackers made away with login credentials – email addresses and passwords – for customer-support websites for STT GDC and Chinese data centre operator GDS, reported Bloomberg, citing a report by cybersecurity research firm Resecurity. Login credentials for more than 1,000 people at STT GDC were stolen, while GDS had information for more than 3,000 people, including its own employees and those of its customers, stolen, according to Bloomberg. ⚓ Ways_and_means_committee_demands_investigation_into_2021_taxpayer_info_leak⠀⇛ Nineteen months after the confidential tax filings of American citizens were leaked, the House Committee on Ways and Means is seeking answers. In a letter to the Inspector General for Tax Administration, committee chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) relays his “expectations” regarding the “egregious and unprecedented” leak of this tax information, a duty which he affirms the IRS is tasked with keeping “confidential and secure.” “U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Yellen stated at the time that this was a ‘very serious situation’ and that the issue was referred to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). She also indicated that she would keep Congress updated on the matter. Yet, nineteen months after the outrageous leak, Congress and, more importantly, the American people have no idea how this betrayal of taxpayer confidentiality happened or whether anyone has been held accountable,” Smith writes. * § Privacy/Surveillance⠀➾ o ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Letting_‘Secrecy_Prevail,’_SCOTUS_Declines_to Hear_Challenge_to_NSA_Mass_Surveillance⠀⇛ Privacy advocates on Tuesday blasted the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the Wikimedia Foundation’s case against a federal program for spying on Americans’ online communications with people abroad. o ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ Pay-Per-Chew:_More_restaurants_trying subscription_programs⠀⇛ Consumers are willing to pay monthly subscription fees for streaming services, pet food and even toilet paper. And now some restaurants are betting they’ll do the same for their favorite meals. Large chains like Panera and P.F. Chang’s as well as neighborhood hangouts are increasingly experimenting with the subscription model as a way to ensure steady revenue and customer visits. Some offer unlimited drinks or free delivery for a monthly fee; others will bring out your favorite appetizer each time you visit. They’re following a trend: The average American juggled 6.7 subscriptions in 2022, up from 4.2 in 2019. That’s according to Rocket Money, a personal finance app. o ⚓ Ars Technica ☛ NSA’s_“state_secrets”_defense_kills_lawsuit challenging_Internet_surveillance⠀⇛ o ⚓ Scoop News Group ☛ Supreme_Court_declines_to_hear_Wikimedia_case against_NSA_surveillance_program⠀⇛ Critics of the high court’s decision not to hear the case say the justices have struck a blow against civil liberties. o ⚓ RFA ☛ China_increases_surveillance,_security_in_run-up_to_Tibetan New_Year_celebrations⠀⇛ Authorities warn they will take action against events that endanger national security. * § Confidentiality⠀➾ o ⚓ American Oversight ☛ DHS_and_Cybersecurity_Agency_Cannot_Search for_Text_Messages_with_Election_Deniers_Because_of_Prior_Practice of_Wiping_Government_Phones⠀⇛ § Defence/Aggression⠀➾ * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ What_Time_is_It?⠀⇛ Every January since 1947, the Board of the Doomsday Clock has announced the position of the hands on the Doomsday Clock.  It was set at 100 seconds to midnight in 2020, stayed there through 2021 and 2022, and then was reset to 90 seconds last month.   This is the closest to Doomsday we have ever been. From Google:   The Doomsday Clock is set anew every January by the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes 10 Nobel laureates. The Clock has become a universally recognized indicator of the world’s vulnerability to global catastrophe caused by manmade technologies. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Foreign_Ministers_Say_G7_Will_Keep_Up_Economic_Pressure_Over Russia’s_Invasion_Of_Ukraine⠀⇛ The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations said on February 21 that their countries would continue to impose economic costs on Russia and urged the broader international community to reject what they described as Moscow’s “brutal expansionism.” * ⚓ Helsinki Times ☛ Finland_makes_it_clear_it_won’t_wait_for_Sweden_to join_Nato⠀⇛ > FINLAND and Sweden may be moving hand in hand toward Nato, but Finland is prepared, if necessary, to let go and enter the alliance without its western neighbour, confirm statements made last weekend in conjunction with the Munich Security Conference, according_to_Helsingin_Sanomat. The Nordic countries submitted their bids to join the defence alliance in May 2022, a couple of months after Russia invaded Ukraine. * ⚓ Helsinki Times ☛ Russia_protests_US_ambassador_over_arming_of_Ukraine amid_Biden’s_visit_to_Kiev⠀⇛ On Tuesday, Russia issued a formal protest, known as a demarche, to US ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy over continued US efforts to arm Ukraine. The move came shortly after US President Joe Biden’s visit to Kiev on Monday, where he pledged another $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, rockets, and anti-armor systems. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was protesting “the growing involvement of the United States in hostilities on the side of the Kiev regime.” * ⚓ Helsinki Times ☛ Putin_warns_of_widening_Ukraine_operation_and_suspends nuclear_treaty_with_US⠀⇛ Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning on Tuesday that if the West decides to supply Ukraine with longer-range advanced weapons, it will force Russia to push the threat further away from its borders. In his annual address to parliament, Putin accused the West of using Ukraine as a battering ram against Russia and a training ground. He stated that it is obvious that the longer the range of Western systems that arrive in Ukraine, the further Russia will be forced to push the threat away from its borders. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ WADA_Appeals_‘Wrong’_Exoneration_Of_Russian_Teen_Figure_Skater Valieva⠀⇛ The World Anti-Doping Agency announced on February 21 that it plans to appeal to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport against Russian anti-doping officials’ exoneration last month of a teen Russian Olympic gold medalist ice skater for a positive doping test. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ ‘Dangerous_and_Reckless’:_Putin_Halts_Russia’s Participation_in_Nuclear_Treaty_With_US⠀⇛ Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during a national address Tuesday that he is suspending his country’s participation in the New START Treaty, Moscow’s lone nuclear arms control agreement with the United States. * ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Putin_Suspends_Nuclear_Arms_Control_Pact_With_The_U.S.⠀⇛ Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning to the Western World on Tuesday when he declared he will no longer participate in the New SMART nuclear treaty with the U.S. The withdrawal marks the last of the country’s nuclear arms control pact almost a year after it invaded Ukraine. * ⚓ France24 ☛ Russia_to_observe_nuclear_curbs_despite_Putin’s_decision_to suspend_treaty⠀⇛ Russia said Tuesday it will observe curbs imposed by the New START treaty, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow was suspending participation in the arms pact with the United States. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ West_Warns_Of_Instability_As_Putin_Suspends_Russian Participation_In_Nuclear_Treaty⠀⇛ President Vladimir Putin says Russia is suspending its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms accord with the United States, further raising concerns over global security during Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. * ⚓ RFA ☛ World_leaders_condemn_North_Korea’s_latest_missile_launch⠀⇛ Experts warn North likely has capability to fire missiles that could reach the US without ‘re-entry’ issues. * ⚓ RFA ☛ Myanmar_prison_guards_injure_more_than_80_inmates_when_argument turns_violent⠀⇛ Brutal punishment against political prisoners is typical in post-coup Myanmar, critics say. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Biden_Offers_‘Strong_Support’_To_Moldova_Amid_Rising_Russia Tensions⠀⇛ U.S. President Joe Biden met with Moldova’s president in Poland on February 21 to offer support amid increasing bellicosity from Moscow as the former Soviet republic expresses fears it could be the next target in the Kremlin’s sights after Ukraine. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ IMF_Head_Says_New_Lending_To_Ukraine_Could_Be_‘Sizable’⠀⇛ Ukraine could secure “sizable support” from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a new, longer-term program, and its economy should see a gradual recovery over the course of this year, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on February 21. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ McCarthy_Hands_41,000_Hours_of_Jan._6_Footage_to ‘Unrepentant_Manipulator’_Tucker_Carlson⠀⇛ Watchdogs on Monday slammed Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to hand 41,000 hours of surveillance footage of the January 6 attack to far-right Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has repeatedly used his massive platform to peddle disinformation, spew bigotry, and cast doubt on the severity of the 2021 insurrection. * ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Kevin_McCarthy_Gives_Tucker_Carlson_Capitol_Attack Surveillance_Footage⠀⇛ * ⚓ The Nation ☛ Kevin_McCarthy_Hands_the_January_6_Video_Over_to_a_January 6_Riot_Promoter⠀⇛ In a shocking move that has so far been weirdly under-covered by the media, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy handed over roughly 44,000 hours of video footage of the January 6 insurrection to Fox News’s top sedition promoter, Tucker Carlson. Exclusively. Axios reported it Monday afternoon; Carlson confirmed it on his show Monday night.1 * ⚓ Michael West Media ☛ AUKUS_alliance_‘future’_for_Australia’s_security: PM⠀⇛ Australia’s partnership with the US and UK has been placed at the centre of the country’s national security, as Anthony Albanese reveals the outlook for the defence force. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Barbara_Lee_Officially_Announces_Senate_Run,_Vowing_to ‘Stand_on_the_Side_of_Justice’⠀⇛ Declaring that “Californians deserve a strong, progressive leader who has delivered real change,” Democratic California Congresswoman Barbara Lee on Tuesday officially announced her entry into the race for Dianne Feinstein’s U.S. Senate seat, a contest that’s expected to be one of the most closely watched—and expensive—of 2024. * ⚓ JURIST ☛ Russia_suspends_participation_in_US-Russia_nuclear_arms treaty⠀⇛ Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday announced Russia will suspend its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Report_Details_‘Staggering_Toll’_of_Russian_War_on Ukrainian_Healthcare,_With_700+_Attacks⠀⇛ Nearly a year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, five groups on Tuesday released a report and interactive map documenting at least 707 attacks on healthcare facilities and workers in what the researchers argue are war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Who’s_Winning_and_Losing_the_Economic_War_Over Ukraine?⠀⇛ With the Ukraine war now reaching its one-year mark on February 24, the Russians have not achieved a military victory but neither has the West achieved its goals on the economic front. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the United States and its European allies vowed to impose crippling sanctions that would bring Russia to its knees and force it to withdraw. * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ A_Diplomatic_Surge_is_Needed_to_Prevent_Endless_War⠀⇛ As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine War, Russia appears to be undertaking a major offensive while Ukraine is planning a counter-offensive. Each side appears to think it can clinch a clear military victory, and force the other side to accept that it can’t win. But the reality is that a stalemate has been reached that is causing immense suffering on each side, with particularly brutal destruction by Russia of civilian targets in Ukraine, including energy facilities, apartment complexes, hospitals, and even schools. The momentum Ukraine saw up through the fall seems to have dissipated. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Russia_carries_out_deadly_shelling_attack_on_Kherson_— Meduza⠀⇛ Russian forces shelled Kherson on Tuesday, Kherson Regional Military Administration head Oleksandr Prokudin reported. * ⚓ NYPost ☛ Russian_ICBM_test_failed_while_Biden_was_in_Ukraine:_report⠀⇛ The test of the nuclear-capable heavy SARMAT missile, dubbed Satan II by NATO, and classified as a “superweapon” by the head of Russia’s aerospace research agency, appears to have failed, according to the officials who spoke to CNN, who believe Russian President Vladimir Putin would have mentioned the test in his State of the Nation… * ⚓ Reason ☛ Did_Biden_Just_Commit_America_to_Another_Forever_War_in Ukraine?⠀⇛ Plus: the editors field a listener question on intellectual property. * ⚓ France24 ☛ Key_battles_in_the_Ukraine_war:_From_Kyiv’s_stand_to_the Kharkiv_counterattack⠀⇛ Russia expected it would quickly seize control of Ukraine at the outset of the invasion, as did many Western observers. But Ukraine fought back with remarkable tenacity and skill, boosted by Western weapons – and the front lines have shifted dramatically since Russian troops moved in on the northern, southern and eastern flanks. FRANCE 24 looks back on some of the decisive battles in the first year of Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II. * ⚓ France24 ☛ Fighter_jets,_quakes,_NATO_stakes:_Are_US-Turkish_ties_on_a reset?⠀⇛ US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday came in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that have rattled the Turkish leader’s projection of his country as a regional hegemon. With Turkey turning into a recipient of generous US humanitarian aid, will Ankara play the role of Washington’s friend rather than foe? * ⚓ teleSUR ☛ Europe_Pays_High_Price_for_Russia-Ukraine_Conflict⠀⇛ One year into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, France and the rest of Europe are finding themselves in a delicate position, teetering under the impact of inflation, an energy crisis, and slowing economic growth. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Putin_suspends_participation_in_New_START_Treaty,_the_US_and Russia’s_only_nuclear_arms_control_agreement_—_Meduza⠀⇛ Putin announced in his Federal Assembly address on Tuesday that Russia is suspending its cooperation with the New START Treaty, the only remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia. He stressed that the suspension is not a full withdrawal. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Russian_journalist_Yulia_Starostina_charged_with ‘discrediting’_Russian_army_for_saying_‘love_and_friendship_are_stronger than_war’_—_Meduza⠀⇛ Moscow police have charged journalist Yulia Starostina with “discrediting” the Russian army for saying “love and friendship are stronger than war” in a news report for TV Rain, according to the independent Russian outlet Agentstvo. Starostina’s hearing is scheduled for February 28. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Russian_men_accused_of_planning_to_damage_military_train sentenced_to_3.5_years_in_first_‘sabotage’_case_since_war_began_— Meduza⠀⇛ A Belgorod court has sentenced two local men to 3.5 years in prison for allegedly planning to damage a railroad used by Russian military trains, TASS reported on Tuesday, citing the FSB. The ruling marks the first time anybody has been sentenced under Russia’s law against sabotage since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine last year. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Ukraine_defense_intelligence:_Russia_is_preparing_to_mobilize college_students_—_Meduza⠀⇛ Russia is preparing for a new round of mobilization, and this time the draft will tap into its student population, says Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate. * ⚓ The Nation ☛ It’s_Time_to_End_the_Outrageous_Militarization_of America’s_Police_Force⠀⇛ In the wake of the cruel and unconscionable death of Tyre Nichols, all five Memphis police officers involved in the incident have been fired and charged with second-degree murder. Scorpion—the aggressive, specialized police unit they belonged to—has been disbanded. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ ‘The_West_is_playing_with_marked_cards’:_Putin’s_Federal Assembly_address_in_a_nutshell_—_Meduza⠀⇛ This is a summary of the main points from Vladimir Putin’s address to the Russian government. The statements below are not direct quotations, but Meduza’s concise paraphrase of what Russia’s president said in his two-hour speech before the Federal Assembly. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Russia’s_Foreign_Ministry_blames_Washington_for_nuclear_treaty suspension,_calls_on_U.S._for_‘good-faith_effort’_to_make_agreement sustainable_—_Meduza⠀⇛ Russia’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement in connection with Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend Russia’s participation in the New START nuclear treaty — the sole nuclear accord between the U.S. and Russia. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Russia_insists_U.S._is_party_to_Ukraine_conflict,_demands withdrawal_of_‘NATO_troops_and_equipment’_from_Ukraine_—_Meduza⠀⇛ Russia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy for a talk about the increasing U.S. involvement in the Ukraine war. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ The_past_is_gone:_Putin_has_revoked_the_2012_decree_that stressed_international_cooperation,_signaling_deep_changes_in_Russia’s foreign_policy_—_Meduza⠀⇛ Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that revokes an earlier law he himself had signed in May 2012, during his third presidential term in Russia. What has just been revoked is a vision of Russia’s foreign policy that contained specific instructions to the government on cultivating cooperative relations with foreign countries, based on respect for the neighbors’ sovereignty and the promise of cooperation with various world regions. The new decree, effective February 21, 2023, disposes with that framework, appealing to Russia’s “national interests” in connection with “deep changes taking place in international relations.” Here are just some of the foreign policy provisions that Putin’s new decree overturns. * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Cuba_and_Vietnam,_What’s_the_Difference?⠀⇛ During a visit to Mexico by Cuba’s president Miguel Díaz-Canel, Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), announced that he was willing to lead an international effort to pressure the U.S. government into lifting its six-decade-old economic embargo against the Cuban people. AMLO stated, “As a sign of goodwill and that all the countries of the Americas are willing to join forces, I consider and express with respect that the US government should lift, as soon as possible, the unjust and inhumane blockade of the Cuban people.” AMLO raises a good point: Why does the U.S. government continue to wage economic war against the people of Cuba with its unjust and inhumane economic embargo?  * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Hitler@90.de⠀⇛ Just over 90 years ago, as it is so often rather euphemistically perceived, “Hitler came to power”, on 30th of January 1933. Well, Hitler did not simply “come” to power. Nor was there, as it is also called, a “Machtergreifung” – the taking of power. In fact, between 1932-1933, Hitler’s popularity had started to weaken. His votes declined from 37.3% (July 1932) to 33.1% (November 1932). At no time, did the majority of Germans support Hitler in free elections. * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Awaiting_China’s_Ukraine_Peace_Plan⠀⇛ At the recently concluded Munich Security Conference, Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, proved the skunk at the party, interrupting the Western cheerleading for more and more war “for as as long as it takes” by announcing that on February 24, the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, China will announce a peace plan for Ukraine which will underscore the need to uphold the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the UN charter while also respecting Russia’s legitimate security interests. A peace plan based on these announced principles might include all or most of the following elements: * ⚓ Quartz ☛ Putin_says_he_will_suspend_nuclear_arms_treaty_with_US⠀⇛ Russian president Vladimir Putin announced he would suspend Moscow’s participation in the New START nuclear arms control treaty during his annual_State_of_the_Nation_address on Feb 21. * ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ Putin_raises_tension_on_Ukraine,_suspends_START nuclear_pact⠀⇛ Russian President Vladimir Putin has suspended Moscow’s participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States. Putin announced the move Tuesday in a bitter state-of-the-nation speech where he made clear he would not change his strategy in the war in Ukraine. Putin emphasized, however, that Russia isn’t withdrawing from the pact yet. And hours after his address, the Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respect the treaty’s caps on nuclear weapons. It also said Russia will continue to exchange information about test launches of ballistic missiles per earlier agreements with the United States. In his speech, Putin cast both Russia and Ukraine as victims of Western double-dealing. * ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ Opponents_describe_hideous_conditions_in Nicaraguan_prisons⠀⇛ Constant fear. Threats. Screams. Darkness. Cells measuring 6 feet by 9, with a hole in the floor for a toilet. Nicaraguan opposition prisoners have recounted the months, and sometimes years, they spent in the notorious prisons run by the regime of President Daniel Ortega. Water was in short supply, and what little food there was, was often rotten beans. Earlier this month, 222 opposition figures and journalists arrested by Ortega were flown to Washington. They began telling stories of the harsh conditions in prison, where visits were strictly limited. * ⚓ Mexico News Daily ☛ US_jury_convicts_Mexico’s_ex-security_minister García_Luna⠀⇛ On their third day of deliberations, the jurors at a U.S. federal court in NY found García Luna guilty of colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel. * ⚓ France24 ☛ Former_Mexican_minister_convicted_in_US_of_drug trafficking⠀⇛ A former Mexican presidential cabinet member was convicted in the US on Tuesday of taking massive bribes to protect the violent drug cartels he was tasked with combating. * ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ The_French_Senate_and_the_Assyrian_Genocide Resolution⠀⇛ The world watched melancholy as the number of deaths from the massive earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria climbed to over 35,000. Efforts of recovering bodies or finding and helping survivors poured from around the world, specially for Turkey. * ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ When_Africa_Is_Just_Around_the_Corner⠀⇛ On January 23, 2022, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, announced Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was embarking on a new tour of Africa. During the week, the high-ranking Russian delegation paid a visit to several countries on the continent: South Africa being the traditional “mainstay” of Russia’s foreign policy in Africa… * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Visiting_Italian_PM_Says_Ukraine_Surrender_‘Cannot_Be_Real Peace’_But_Jets_‘Not_On_The_Table’⠀⇛ Any peace that entails the surrender of Ukraine to invading Russian forces “cannot be a real peace” but the supply of military planes to Ukraine “is not on the table,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on February 21 after talks in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Investigations_By_Denmark,_Sweden,_And_Germany_Into_Nord_Stream Blasts_Are_Ongoing⠀⇛ Investigations into explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year are ongoing and it remains unclear when they will conclude, the Danish, Swedish, and German foreign ministries said on February 21 in a letter sent to the UN Security Council. § Environment⠀➾ * ⚓ DeSmog ☛ How_the_Electric_Utilities_Industry_Created_One_of_the ‘Largest’_Propaganda_Campaigns_in_U.S._History⠀⇛ Science historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, authors of the classic 2010 book Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming, have released a new book placing that doubt machine into a longer arc of U.S. business and political history.  The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market explores an even more ambitious history dating from the dawn of the 20th century to the present day.  * ⚓ DeSmog ☛ Hope_Amid_Climate_Chaos:_A_Conversation_with_Rebecca_Solnit⠀⇛ From throwing soup against paintings, to blocking roads, to striking for the climate, to stopping private jets from taking off, activists worldwide are pushing harder than ever for action to address global warming. And they are delivering a clear and consistent message: What has long been accepted as the status quo — expanding fossil fuels, investing in polluting industries, oil and gas propaganda, greenwashing, climate change denial, governmental delay in climate action — is simply not acceptable anymore. The climate movement is working incessantly to make this clear to everyone. When we talk about any movement, including the push for climate action, we’re talking about a “zeitgeist, a change in the air,” writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit writes in her essay-turned-book Hope in the Dark, which focuses on the intersection of activism, social change, and hope. It’s this last element, hope, that can become “an electrifying force in the present,” Solnit writes, “a sense that there might be a door at some point, some way out of the problems of the present moment even before it is found or followed.”   * ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Ecocide_—_Not_Eco-Activism_—_Is_a_Crime_Against_Humanity, Says_Steven_Donziger⠀⇛ * ⚓ DeSmog ☛ Austrian_Youth_Take_their_Government_to_Court_Over ‘Ineffective’_Climate_Policy⠀⇛ Austria is the latest country to be facing a lawsuit brought by some of its youngest citizens who say their government is failing to protect them from the worsening climate crisis. Backed by the Austrian chapter of the youth climate strike organization Fridays for Future, a group of 12 children and adolescents launched a landmark constitutional climate case against the Austrian government on Tuesday. The case specifically challenges a 2011 climate protection law, claiming it is ineffective and outdated, and therefore infringes upon children’s constitutional rights. * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Geoengineering_the_Atlantic_Ocean?⠀⇛ A series of retractable gates out in the Atlantic Ocean between New Jersey and the Rockaways in New York City—for $119 billion. That’s among the projects that have and are being considered—“geoengineering” is their category—at enormous cost to try to protect the New York Metropolitan Area from intense storms, among the impacts of global warming. Just out in the current issue of Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management of the American Society of Civil Engineers is an article about the schemes—with a title as extensive as the proposed projects: “Coastal Defense Megaprojects in an Era of Sea-Level Rise: Politically Feasible Strategies or Army Corps Fantasies?” * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ War_is_a_Climate_Killer⠀⇛ War inevitably results in a huge amount of smoke and toxic emissions, increasing the release of greenhouse gases. (Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Wikimedia Commons) War brings death and destruction – not least to the environment and climate. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine offers a depressing reminder of that fact, and further increases the military sector’s already enormous global CO₂ footprint. In addition, the eastern Ukrainian cities where fighting is taking place are home to fossil fuel infrastructure such as chemical factories, oil refineries, and coal mines, the bombing of which produces a cocktail of toxic substances that has devastating environmental impacts. Efforts to arm the two sides, moreover, are consuming materials and resources that could otherwise go towards tackling the climate crisis. * ⚓ France24 ☛ Rescuers_in_southeastern_Brazil_scramble_to_find_survivors after_floods⠀⇛ Rescuers in southeastern Brazil searched frantically for survivors among dozens of people still missing Tuesday after record rainfalls caused flooding and mudslides that killed at least 44 people over the weekend. * § Energy/Transportation⠀➾ o ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ Man_tied_to_Lyft_driver_slaying_charged_in separate_case⠀⇛ A man who police say was driving the car of a dead South Florida Lyft driver has been charged with murder and other counts in a separate case. Records show a Hardee County grand jury indicted Matthew Flores on Tuesday on a first-degree murder charge. The indictment relates to the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of 43-year-old Jose Carlos Martinez in Wauchula. Police were actively searching for Flores in that case by Jan. 30, when Lyft driver Gary Levin went missing after dropping off a customer in Okeechobee. Flores was later spotted driving Levin’s red 2022 Kia Stinger in North Carolina, and officials say Flores was arrested after a chase through three counties. o ⚓ Mexico News Daily ☛ Government_lithium_reserve_established_in Sonora⠀⇛ “Oil and lithium belong to the nation, to the people of Mexico,” said President López Obrador in his speech on Saturday in Sonora. o ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ Discovery_of_Lithium_Reserve_in_Kashmir:_New Complications_in_resolution_of_disputed_land⠀⇛ One of the greatest lithium resources in the world, the 5.9 million tonne lithium reserve was found in the Reasi district by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). o ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ Electric_cars_dangle_the_promise_of_earning money_for_their_drivers⠀⇛ By Helen Massy-Beresford While drivers considering an electric vehicle (EV) might imagine the main benefit being less air pollution from their own journeys, EV batteries could also make money for car owners – and help countries stabilise their power grids. o ⚓ Silicon Angle ☛ Coinbase’s_stock_falls_as_user_numbers_and trading_volume_decline⠀⇛ Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc. beat projections as it delivered its fourth-quarter earnings and revenue today, but its user numbers fell short of estimates, sending its stock down in after-hours trading. ⚓ Atlantic Council ☛ The_power_of_renewables:_Productive_use_appliances_as climate_change_solutions_in_sub-Saharan_Africa⠀⇛ Productive use appliances can mitigate emissions while encouraging climate adaptation and resilience in sub-Saharan Africa. They can push households up the energy ladder and stimulate economic development, if managed correctly. ⚓ H2 View ☛ Scotland_and_Singapore_to_partner_on_hydrogen_projects⠀⇛ A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Scotland and Singapore has been signed to build hydrogen trade and innovation opportunities between the two countries. ⚓ HRW ☛ Australia_Should_Ban_New_Coal,_Oil,_and_Gas_Projects⠀⇛ ⚓ teleSUR ☛ Union_Pacific_Train_Loaded_With_Coal_Derails_in_Nebraska⠀⇛ Police, railroad workers and a hazardous materials’ response team were deployed to the scene. ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Green_Groups,_Indigenous_Leaders_Urge_Court_to_Block ‘Illegally_Approved’_Lithium_Mine⠀⇛ A coalition of conservation groups on Tuesday joined Native American tribes in launching legal challenges to a proposed lithium mine in northern Nevada that critics say was “illegally approved” and will “irreparably damage” the delicate desert ecosystem and land where Indigenous peoples are seeking federal historical recognition of a genocidal massacre perpetrated by U.S. colonizers. ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ New_emergency_bid_to_appeal,_block_huge_Nevada_lithium mine⠀⇛ Conservationists are seeking an emergency court order to block construction of a lithium mine near the Nevada-Oregon line. The new request filed Tuesday in federal court in Reno comes after a judge there directed the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to revisit part of its approval of the plans but allowed construction to go forward in the meantime. Four environmental groups are asking the judge to temporarily halt any work at Lithium Americas’ mine until they can appeal her Feb. 6 ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The judge in Reno ordered the government’s lawyers to respond on an expedited basis by the end of Wednesday. ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Biden_Implored_to_Avert_‘Carbon_Bomb’_by_Blocking_Texas_Gulf Oil_Terminals⠀⇛ The Biden administration’s plan to potentially allow four new oil terminals along the Texas Gulf Coast would unleash a “carbon bomb” potentially equivalent to three years of all U.S. emissions and belie President Joe Biden’s stated intent to “act boldly on climate,” according to an analysis published on Tuesday. ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Decisions_on_a_Nuclear_Future_are_Guided_by_Myths⠀⇛ Last month I rushed through the august halls of the British parliament in Westminster, on my way to a briefing on small modular reactors for Members of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. Running late though I was, it was tempting to slow down and take in all the historic portraits and portals as I hurried down flagstoned hallways, through heavy oak doors and finally into the richly carpeted committee room. But the albeit fleeting impression all of this left was of a world completely isolated from the reality of the daily struggles most of us endure. The rarified air was almost suffocating. ⚓ Latvia ☛ ‘Inter-ministerial_committee’_to_be_created_for_Rail_Baltica project⠀⇛ On February 21, the Latvian Government approved the proposal of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to establish a new bureaucratic body in an effort to speed up the Rail Baltica infrastructure project, which is estimated to be around four years behind its original schedue. ⚓ Latvia ☛ Government_rejects_Skulte_LNG_terminal_developer’s_requests⠀⇛ The Latvian cabinet, on the basis of an analysis by the Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM), rejected the terms of the project proposed by Skulte Liquefied Gas Terminal developer AS Skule LNG Terminal and its strategic investor, the Ministry said on February 21. § Wildlife/Nature⠀➾ * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Overdevelopment_Threatens_Montana_Quality_of_Life⠀⇛ It’s becoming more clear every day that the endless push to develop Montana in every way possible is conflicting with and denigrating the very reason most Montanans live here – for our quality of life. Despite society’s delusions about “having it all” the simple truth is you can’t have it both ways. § Finance⠀➾ * ⚓ teleSUR ☛ US_Tax_Law_Likely_To_Cause_Economic_Disparities⠀⇛ Though the U.S. tax code contains no provision targeting a racial group, the law can actually cause or increase economic disparities between African American households and Whites, CNN reported Monday, citing a recent study. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Hunger_Cliffs_Loom_in_US_With_Extra_Food_Benefits_Set to_Expire⠀⇛ Millions of Americans will find it harder to put enough food on the table starting in March 2023, after a Covid-19 pandemic-era boost to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits comes to an end. Congress mandated this change in budget legislation it passed in late December 2022. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ Does_Being_Balanced_at_the_New_York_Times_Mean_Giving Right-Wingers_Space_to_Lie?⠀⇛ Guess so, since it gave Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, plenty of space to say things that are extremely deceptive, if not outright lies. The gist of Riedl’s piece is that it will not be possible to sustain Social Security and Medicare without tax increases on the middle class. * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ A_Self-Tax_for_the_Common_Good⠀⇛ * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ The_Future_of_Vehicle_Prices⠀⇛ On a lazy Friday afternoon, a person’s thoughts naturally turn to car price indexes. There actually is a reason that I became interested in this topic. I noticed that in the January Consumer Price Index, the new vehicle index rose 0.2 percent. The December measure was revised up due to new seasonal adjustment factors, so that what had been reported as a 0.1 percent decline last month, is now reported as a 0.6 percent increase. I was inclined to think this was an aberration, that we would see the downward trend that had previously been apparent in the data, reappear in another month or two. However, I noticed that the Manheim index for used vehicle prices showed a sharp uptick for January and the first half of February. This was after a full year in which declining prices were reversing much of the pandemic run-up. Perhaps my expectation that vehicle prices, both new and used, would soon look like they were back on their pre-pandemic path, was wrong. * ⚓ Mexico News Daily ☛ US_senators_urge_action_on_“surge”_of_Mexican_steel imports⠀⇛ A group of U.S. senators want the U.S. Trade Representative to invoke a 2019 trade agreement that could mean the return of 25% steel tariffs. * ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ Bengal_Lights_for_the_Belt_and_Road_Initiative: Specifics_of_Bangladesh_Policy⠀⇛ Bangladesh has been boasting the highest economic growth rates among the countries of South Asia over the past 10 years. The nation’s GDP per capita has reached USD 2,500, a number that surpasses those of the neighboring India and Pakistan. Dhaka is keen on fostering relations with Beijing, New Delhi and Washington concurrently. * ⚓ Reason ☛ What_the_Madoff_Series_Left_Out⠀⇛ A Netflix documentary series blames the SEC for missing the Ponzi scheme and then calls for giving the SEC more power. * ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong_Kong_Budget_2023:_HK$5,000_consumption vouchers_for_all_eligible_residents⠀⇛ Hongkongers are to receive another round of consumption vouchers totalling HK$5,000, Finance Secretary Paul Chan has announced. * ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong_Kong_Budget_2023:_Gov’t_to_spend_HK$50m_on promotional_work_as_city_outlines_new_local_‘happy’_campaign⠀⇛ Hong Kong is set to inject HK$50 million to support its promotional work… § AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics⠀➾ * ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Republican_Operatives_Are_Astroturfing_Opposition_to_Solar Power⠀⇛ Several grassroots groups opposed to solar projects in local areas may have one thing in common: a Virginia-based group with powerful GOP connections advising them on strategy. * ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Project_Veritas_Founder_James_O’Keefe_Ousted_Over_Alleged Spending_on_DJ_Equipment⠀⇛ Project Veritas, the far-right activist group aimed at holding journalists and progressives accountable through deleterious means, has cut off its nose to spite its face. * ⚓ Press Gazette ☛ Magazine_ABCs_for_2022:_Full_breakdown_of_print_and digital_circulations⠀⇛ Full breakdown of magazine ABC circulation data for 2022. * ⚓ Danish_ex-minister_charged_with_revealing_state_secrets⠀⇛ A former Danish defence minister said Tuesday he had been charged with leaking state secrets, in a case linked to a scandal regarding Denmark’s collaboration with US intelligence. * ⚓ NPR ☛ NPR_says_it’s_cutting_jobs_by_10%_as_ad_revenue_drops⠀⇛ NPR’s chief executive announced the network would lay off roughly 10% of its current workforce – at least 100 people – and eliminate most vacant positions. * ⚓ The Nation ☛ POP!⠀⇛ * ⚓ Telex (Hungary) ☛ Five_strong_sentences_from_Viktor_Orbán’s_annual State_of_the_Nation_speech⠀⇛ * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ ‘Embarrassed’_by_‘Racist’_Israeli_Government,_Sanders Threatens_Bill_to_Withhold_Aid⠀⇛ Senator Bernie Sanders(I-Vt.) came on Face the Nation Sunday. In the course of the interview, Sanders lashed out at the new, extremist government in Israel, which includes a minister once convicted of incitement to racial violence and more than one figure belonging to Kahanist organizations of a sort that were at some points on the U.S. terrorism list. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ For_First_Time_in_6_Years,_US_Allows_UN_Security Council_to_Denounce_Israeli_Settlements⠀⇛ The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously approved a formal statement expressing opposition to Israel’s ongoing expansion of illegal settlements on Occupied Palestinian Territory, the first time in more than six years the United States has permitted the body to rebuke its close ally. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Moscow_court_dismisses_posthumous_case_against_prominent_neo- Nazi_Maxim_Martsinkevich_—_Meduza⠀⇛ A Moscow court has ended the posthumous criminal proceedings against neo-Nazi Maxim Martsinkevich, also known as “The Hatchet,” at his family’s request, Kommersant reported on Wednesday. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Authorities_blame_hackers_after_air_raid_sirens_sound_over radio_in_multiple_Russian_cities_—_Meduza⠀⇛ The sound of air raid sirens played over radio stations in at least nine Russian cities on Wednesday, according to the Telegram channels Baza and Ostorozhno, Novosti. * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Time_to_End_the_Sanctions_on_Syria…and_Everywhere Else⠀⇛ The horrific February 6 earthquake in Southern Turkey and northern Syria has shined a spotlight on the broad-based economic sanctions that the US has imposed on  countries with supposedly “hostile” governments. It is not a pretty picture. In Syria, the US has been promoting regime change for decades. Since 2012 it has spent $billions to arm opposition forces, often including Islamic militants who are otherwise the enemies of the US and its allies as well as the Syrian government. The US has imposed brutal economic sanctions on Syria, which have further immiserated a population which was already reeling from 10 years of proxy war imposed on the country. At the same time, the US military and its allies occupy broad swaths of Syrian territory in the east and south, denying Syrians access to crucial oil and wheat resources. Turkey and local Syrians who are now effectively Turkish mercenaries illegally occupy much of northern Syria. And Turkish troops protect a NW Syrian enclave in the province of Idlib which is ruled by Al-Qaeda and its allies. * ⚓ TruthOut ☛ GOP-Controlled_Statehouses_Are_Lurching_Right_Due_to Unfettered_Corporate_Money⠀⇛ * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Demagogue_Rising⠀⇛ Rightwing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is overturning every liberal rock in his state of Florida because he’s running for president in a war against a woke America, aiming at books, institutions and sexual orientation he doesn’t like. And not only is no one stopping this renegade self-appointed censor of some of the cream of American literature and life – Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn? C’mon! – but most libraries are bowing before him as Mr. Fahrenheit 451 of the book burning world. (Paper burns at that temperature.) * ⚓ Democracy Now ☛ Chicago_Mayoral_Race:_Policing,_Housing,_Education_Are Key_Issues_for_9_Dem._Candidates_on_Feb._28⠀⇛ A pivotal Chicago mayoral race, just a week away, on February 28, is an off-cycle election, and voter turnout could be low, as nine Democratic candidates court their vote and face pressure to address public safety and crime. Candidates include incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Congressmember Chuy García, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson and former Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools Paul Vallas, who is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police. This comes as Republican Governor Ron DeSantis spoke Monday in Chicago in support of police. We discuss the race with Democracy Now! co- host Juan González in Chicago, along with Chuy García supporter Luis Gutiérrez, a former Democratic congressmember for Illinois and former member of the Chicago City Council, and Brandon Johnson supporter Barbara Ransby, a professor of Black studies, gender and women’s studies and history at the University of Illinois Chicago. * ⚓ Democracy Now ☛ Police_Murders_of_Fred_Hampton_to_Laquan_McDonald: Chicago_Police_Council_Elections_Are_a_First⠀⇛ The police murder of Fred Hampton in Chicago in 1969 helped launch a movement more than 50 years ago for community-led police accountability. In a culmination of this campaign, Chicago voters next Tuesday will elect 22 local police councils tasked with community control of the police. Seven members of the councils will be part of a Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, a new model of police oversight. We speak with Frank Chapman, longtime activist and field organizer with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, about the initiative and how it aims to empower Black and Brown working-class civilians. * ⚓ The Nation ☛ A_Profession!⠀⇛ The scene: a graduate seminar in literature sometime in the eerily becalmed days of the mid-1990s, when for an aspirant to an academic job, the future seemed poised to break in one of two directions—either the long-promised wave of retirements and a deluge of open positions, or a decisive sign that the hiring trend line was never going to reverse its downward course. Imagine not quite knowing what would happen—even if that is now, in fact, very hard to do. Imagine, with even greater difficulty, sitting in that seminar as a widely read, charismatic literary theorist stood explaining that our line of work was a profession—one that involved duties and allegiances that extended well beyond the separate institutions that would support our existence in the form of paid employment. The place where the person worked was not all that important; we would be judged—and rewarded—elsewhere.1 * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Letter_from_London:_A_Specious_or_Special Relationship?⠀⇛ Those of you in the United States reading this right now may not be aware of the cold snap you have just sent over to us. More than numbing, it was like a meteorological kick in the teeth. No need for us to fall out, though. We have sent to you our own fair share of icy winds in the past, often those having come at us from across the Russian steppes. But it does get me thinking about the so-called special relationship. We are still thick as thieves, aren’t we? Even if the late Helmet Schmidt did once say that if you mention the UK’s special relationship in Washington, ‘no one knows what you are talking about’. Added to which, my New Yorker friend likes calling us a small island. ‘The UK is 35 percent of Texas,’ he teases: ‘Including Scotland.’ Either way, it must have been one hell of an Atlantic crossing for all those chill winds. The second-largest ocean on earth, 150 million years old, takes no prisoners this time of year. In my childhood imagination — presumably from all those black and white movies on TV — it was always full of U-boats plus the odd Coleridge albatross as rendered by Gustave Dore also in black and white. With an average depth of 11,962 feet, none of us at school really knew what was going on down there except for giant cables and weird fish. In fact, just like a relationship, not just a special one, either, the deeper you went, the more interesting it became. I was amazed for example to learn the Puerto Rico Trench was an incredible 27,841 feet. From the air, the Atlantic was always a swirl of faraway greys, a glorious dull blob between two colourful entities. Skywards, I never saw balloons. Talking of which, we have just been told our RAF swing-role Typhoons remain on standby for such an invasion. Even though we are supposed to be on standby anyway. This whole balloon malarkey is more like Orson Welles and his adaptation on radio of HG Wells’s ‘The War of the Worlds,’ than it is anything real. * ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong_Kong_court_adjourns_case_against_4_fugitive protesters_and_man_who_allegedly_helped_hide_them_to_April⠀⇛ A Hong Kong court has adjourned the case against four fugitive Hong Kong protesters who allegedly hid in safehouses for two years and a man who is suspected of helping them to April. * ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ U-turn_as_Hong_Kong_revokes_visa_of_Chinese scientist_jailed_over_gene_editing⠀⇛ Authorities in Hong Kong said late Tuesday they had cancelled the work visa of a Chinese biophysicist who was jailed for creating the world’s first gene-edited babies, throwing cold water on his plans to relocate his research to the city. * ⚓ JURIST ☛ UN_urges_Israel_to_pause_judicial_reform_plans_over_human rights_concerns⠀⇛ In response to the proposed reform of Israel’s judicial system, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Tuesday urged the country to halt its plans to overhaul the legal and judicial system over concerns of potential human rights violations. * ⚓ JURIST ☛ UN_Security_Council_denounces_Israel_West_Bank_settlements⠀⇛ The UN Security Council (UNSC) Monday adopted a presidential statement expressing its “deep concern and dismay” over Israel’s recent approval of further construction and expansion in the West Bank. * § Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda⠀➾ o ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ Still_Haven’t_Found_What_I’m_Looking_For⠀⇛ The local paper’s Business section headlined (2/16/23): “Study shows ‘striking’ number who believe news misinforms.”  Clutching my pearls, I read—— “Half of Americans in a recent survey indicated they believe national news organizations intend to mislead, misinform, or persuade the public to adopt a particular point of view through their reporting.” The task of turning what began as an agrarian republic into a globe-straddling Imperial Power bent on international “force-projection” takes time. Over many decades it has required the ceaseless toil of political and cultural managers, barrels of ink, thousands of teleprompter-dependent “personalities,” and trillions of propaganda pixels. o ⚓ RFA ☛ Myanmar_junta’s_switch_to_electronic_voting_won’t_bode_well for_voters,_analysts_say⠀⇛ The fear the military regime will manipulate ballots in its favor. § Censorship/Free Speech⠀➾ * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ ‘Gift_to_the_Ruling_Class’:_Florida_Bill_Would_Make_It Easier_for_Officials_Like_DeSantis_to_Sue_Critics⠀⇛ A Florida House Republican introduced legislation Monday that would make it easier for state officials—such as censorship- happy Gov. Ron DeSantis—to sue for defamation, a measure that critics decried as a blatant attack on the freedom of the press and free expression with potentially sweeping implications. * ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Free_Speech_Advocates_Say_Florida_Bill_Would_Silence_Elected Officials’_Critics⠀⇛ * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Moscow_Teenage_Activist_Detained_After_Interview_With_RFE/RL’s Russian_Service⠀⇛ Police in Moscow have detained 18-year-old activist Maksim Lypkan after searching his and his father’s apartments for giving an interview to RFE/RL’s Russian Service. * ⚓ RFA ☛ YouTube_shuts_down_satirical_spoof_video_channel_targeting Chinese_leader_Xi_Jinping⠀⇛ Chinese censors are likely exploiting YouTube’s copyright infringement reporting system to erase political content. * ⚓ RFA ☛ China_arrests_family_of_Kazakh_singer_supposedly_contacted_by foreign_reporter⠀⇛ Family members punished for failing to stop her from communicating with purported AP reporter § Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press⠀➾ * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Kyrgyz_Court_Orders_Ministry_To_Reveal_Materials_Of_Probe_That Led_To_Freezing_Of_RFE/RL_Accounts⠀⇛ A court in Kyrgyzstan has ordered the Interior Ministry to provide materials related to a probe that led to the freezing of the bank accounts of RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Radio Azattyk. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Missing_Chechen_Opposition_Blogger_Squashes_Rumors_Of_His_Death In_Video_Statement⠀⇛ A noted self-exiled Chechen opposition blogger who has been missing amid rumors that he was killed by people close to the Kremlin-backed authoritarian leader of Russia’s Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has announced that he is alive. § Civil Rights/Policing⠀➾ * ⚓ The Kent Stater ☛ SDS_rallies_to_protect_affirmative_action⠀⇛ Students for a Democratic Society protested against challenges to affirmative action brought to the Supreme Court Tuesday. SDS members said affirmative action is an important policy to promote diversity. * ⚓ HRW ☛ Haiti:_FIFA_Failing_Sex_Abuse_Survivors⠀⇛ * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Jailed_Azerbaijani_Activist’s_Health_Said_To_Be_Critical_Due_To Hunger_Strike⠀⇛ Jailed Azerbaijani activist Baxtiyar Haciyev’s health has dramatically worsened due to his hunger strike and he could fall into a coma if he is not provided with urgent medical assistance, his lawyer Rovsana Rahimli told RFE/RL on February 21. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Prosecutors_Allege_Murder,_Torture_As_Hague_War-Crimes_Trial Opens_Of_Former_Kosovo_Fighter⠀⇛ Prosecutors accused former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter Pjeter Shala of the murder of one person and the illegal captivity and torture of nearly 20 others during Kosovo’s war of independence from Serbia, as his war crimes trial began in The Hague on February 21. * ⚓ RFA ☛ INTERVIEW:_‘Young_people_today_are_still_speaking_out’⠀⇛ Former Xiamen University professor You Shengdong says dissent and political opposition are alive and well in China. * ⚓ Helsinki Times ☛ Transport_strike_will_end_–_Posti’s_deliveries_to return_to_normal_quickly,_parcels_to_arrive_in_upcoming_days⠀⇛ Finnish Transport Workers’ Union AKT’s strike will end on Tuesday, February 21, at 12 pm as previously announced. The Finnish Post and Logistics Union PAU’s support measures that begun on February 16 will end at the same time. “AKT’s strike and PAU’s support measures have unfortunately caused delays and disturbances to our customers’ deliveries. * ⚓ RFERL ☛ Lawyer_Of_Iranian_Protester_Sentenced_To_Death_Says_State’s Case_Lacked_Evidence_And_Witnesses⠀⇛ The lawyer of Iranian protester Javad Ruhi, who has been handed three death sentences after being charged with “corruption on Earth,” says the cases against his client lacked evidence and witnesses. * ⚓ teleSUR ☛ US_Sanctions_Add_to_Afghans’_Pain,_Poverty_During_Cold Winter⠀⇛ “The United States has frozen Afghanistan money. Yes, it is such sanctions that have caused price hikes and poverty,” said a local Afghan resident, who complained of U.S. sanctions against Afghanistan. * ⚓ Vice Media Group ☛ Companies_Can’t_Ask_You_to_Shut_up_to_Receive Severance,_NLRB_Rules⠀⇛ The board reverses two previous decisions that held that such severance agreements were lawful. Limits on free speech have become increasingly common aspect of many severance agreements. * ⚓ Telex (Hungary) ☛ The_latest_from_Arte_Weekly:_As_aids_are_coming_late, the_natural_disaster_could_turn_into_a_humanitarian_one_in_Turkey_and Syria⠀⇛ * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ McCarthyism,_Then_and_Now⠀⇛ Can there be any question that we’re in a mad — and loud — new age of McCarthyism? Thank you, Kevin! And don’t forget the wildly over-the-top members of the so-called Freedom Caucus and their Republican associates, including that charmer, lyin’ George Santos, Jewish-space-laser-and-white-balloon- carrying Marjorie Taylor Greene, and — once again running for president — the man who never lost, Donald Trump-em-all. I’d like to say it couldn’t get crazier. Still, despite watching Greene shout “Liar!” and other Republicans yell “Bullshit!” during President Biden’s State of the Union Address, I suspect it could get much worse (and more dangerous) in Washington in the months to come. And believe me, that’s leaving Hunter Biden’s penis aside. When it comes to this era’s McCarthyism, don’t for a moment think that the debt ceiling is the only ceiling that could end up in the dust of history. * ⚓ Quartz ☛ What_can_you_do_when_your_company_reverses_on_remote_work?⠀⇛ If your employer says you have to return to the office, do you have any leverage? * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ McCarthyism,_Then_and_Now⠀⇛ Can there be any question that we’re in a mad — and loud — new age of McCarthyism? Thank you, Kevin! And don’t forget the wildly over-the-top members of the so-called Freedom Caucus and their Republican associates, including that charmer, lyin’ George Santos, Jewish-space-laser-and-white-balloon-carrying Marjorie Taylor Greene, and — once again running for president — the man who never lost, Donald Trump-em-all. * ⚓ Common Dreams ☛ After_Four-Day_Workweek_Trial,_91%_of_Companies_Opt_to Continue_Schedule⠀⇛ Sixty-one companies in the United Kingdom joined a pilot program in June 2022 in which they reduced their employees’ workweek to four days—with no reduction in salary—and eight months later, 91% of them say they have no plans to go back to a five-day week. * ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Angela_Davis_Discusses_Malcolm_X’s_Legacy_and_Her_Removal From_AP_Black_Studies⠀⇛ * ⚓ Democracy Now ☛ Angela_Davis_on_Assassination_&_Legacy_of_Malcolm_X, Her_Exclusion_from_AP_Black_Studies_and_More⠀⇛ We speak with renowned scholar and activist Angela Davis on the 58th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X. Davis is delivering a keynote address Tuesday at the Shabazz Center in New York, formerly the Audubon Ballroom, where the iconic Black leader was killed on February 21, 1965. Davis says Malcolm is still vital to understanding racism, power and justice in the United States and beyond. “Malcolm always placed these issues in a larger context, and I think that we can learn a great deal from that legacy today,” says Davis. She also responds to recent moves by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and others to restrict the teaching of African American history, calling it an effort to “turn the clock back” on racial progress. * ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Prison_Deaths_Increased_by_50_Percent_in_the_First_Year_of the_COVID_Pandemic⠀⇛ * ⚓ The Nation ☛ Letters_From_the_March_6/13,_2023,_Issue⠀⇛ Re “Why the Kennedy School Rejected Ken Roth,” by Michael Massing [Jan. 23/30]: The decision by Kennedy dean Douglas Elmendorf to deny Human Rights Watch’s Kenneth Roth a fellow’s appointment reflects the toadying to Washington and to major donors that’s been going on at the Kennedy School for decades. In 1981, when I was a research fellow at what is now the Belfer Center, then-dean Graham Allison and much of the faculty hastened to retain political standing after Reagan’s election by moving to change the institution’s name to the Harvard School of Government. Learning of this attempt, the outraged mayor of Cambridge renamed Boylston Street, on which the school fronts, to John F. Kennedy Street. Seven years later, Derek Bok, the university’s president who had been upset by the scheme, finally pressured Mr. Allison to step down after the wheeling-dealing political science professor approved a draft agreement to make a rich Texas couple officers of the school in return for a $500,000 gift.2 * ⚓ The Nation ☛ Black_History_vs._Black_Resistance:_A_Quandary⠀⇛ Carter G. Woodson, the Black intellectual now remembered as the father of Black History Month, laid out the case for a national campaign of remembrance for Black history in a 1926 essay announcing the institution of “Negro History Week.” “If a race has no history, if it has no worth-while tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated,” Woodson wrote. * ⚓ The Nation ☛ Asylum_Seekers’_Arduous_Journey_Doesn’t_End_Once_They_Are in_the_United_States⠀⇛ Over the past several months, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sent thousands of asylum seekers to New York. While finding shelter may be the migrants’ initial worry, it certainly won’t be their only concern. * ⚓ Meduza ☛ Belarus_moves_to_legalize_capital_punishment_for_treason_in government_office_and_military_—_Meduza⠀⇛ The lower chamber of the Belarus parliament has passed a law authorizing capital punishment for treason, if committed by a government official or a member of the Belarus military. * ⚓ Counter Punch ☛ A_Return_to_Child_Labor?⠀⇛ * ⚓ Techdirt ☛ Techdirt_Podcast_Episode_344:_The_DoNotPay_Story,_With Kathryn_Tewson⠀⇛ If you’ve been reading Techdirt recently, you probably know all about supposed “AI Lawyer” service DoNotPay and the tireless investigation of the company undertaken by Kathryn Tewson, who has written a couple of Techdirt posts about the saga. This week, Kathryn joins us on the podcast for a long and entertaining discussion about the entire story (so far). * ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ Seattle_becomes_first_U.S._city_to_ban_caste discrimination⠀⇛ The Seattle City Council has added caste to the city’s anti- discrimination laws, becoming the first U.S. city to specifically ban caste discrimination. Calls to outlaw discrimination based on caste, a division of people based on birth or descent, have grown louder among South Asian diaspora communities in the United States. The movement is getting pushback from some Hindu Americans who argue that such legislation maligns a specific community. Proponents of the ordinance approved Tuesday say caste discrimination crosses national and religious boundaries and that without such laws, those facing caste discrimination in the U.S. will have no protections. Groups opposing the measure say it will malign a community that is already the target of prejudice. * ⚓ Reason ☛ Can_a_Federal_Court_Vacate_a_Regulation_Without_First Concluding_It_Was_Unlawful?⠀⇛ A Ninth Circuit opinion concludes that when a federal agency seeks a voluntary remand of a contested rule, that is not enough to vacate the regulation. * ⚓ Digital Music News ☛ Federal_Lawmakers_Call_on_Google_CEO_to_Protect Striking_Employees’_Rights:_‘Recognize_the_Invaluable_Contributions YouTube_Music_Workers_Bring_to_Your_Company’⠀⇛ Earlier this month, about 40 (previously remote) YouTube Music employees went on strike after being ordered to show up for work at the office. Now, in a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, lawmakers in the House and the Senate are expressing their “serious concern” over the “alleged retaliation” that the striking staffers have faced. * ⚓ JURIST ☛ UN_subcommittee_cancels_visit_to_Australia_after_being_denied access_to_detention_and_mental_health_facilities⠀⇛ The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) Monday canceled its visit to Australia after it was denied access to detention centers and mental health facilities. § Internet Policy/Net Neutrality⠀➾ * ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Supreme_Court_Justices_Admit_They_Don’t_Know_Much_About Social_Media⠀⇛ U.S. Supreme Court justices may be many things, but they definitely aren’t social media experts. The justices roasted themselves during oral arguments Tuesday of a case against Google that could determine the fate of nearly all speech online. * ⚓ NYPost ☛ Supreme_test_in_‘terror-death_posting’_case:_Can_Big_Tech_be blamed?⠀⇛ Are Google, Facebook, Twitter and other tech giants ­responsible for what their users see on social media? * ⚓ Public Knowledge ☛ Public_Knowledge_Urges_FCC_to_Swiftly_and_Forcefully Address_Digital_Discrimination⠀⇛ We urge the FCC to proactively set policies that end digital discrimination and promote equal access to broadband for all. * ⚓ Reason ☛ Is_Ketanji_Brown_Jackson_a_Greater_Threat_to_Big_Tech_Than Clarence_Thomas?⠀⇛ The Supreme Court’s newest member weighs in on the meaning of Section 230 in Gonzalez v. Google. § Monopolies⠀➾ * ⚓ JURIST ☛ UK_tribunal_rejects_application_for_£2.3_billion_class_action suit_against_Meta⠀⇛ The UK’s competition tribunal Monday rejected an application for a £2.3 billion class action  lawsuit which accused Facebook’s parent company Meta of “unfair trading conditions. * § Patents⠀➾ o ⚓ JUVE ☛ EPO_and_IPQC_reach_impasse_in_patent_quality_discussion [Ed: Better headline: EPO patent quality has collapsed and there's no solution to it]⠀⇛ In autumn 2022, various companies launched the Industry Patent Quality Charter (IPQC) at the initiative of Beat Weibel, chief IP counsel at Siemens. Almost simultaneously, the EPO published its own new quality policy, which is an important component of its Strategic Plan 2023. o ⚓ Unified Patents ☛ Litigation_Investment_Entities:_The_Investors Behind_the_Curtain⠀⇛ Unified, as part of their ongoing deterrence activities, will be tracking and reporting on Litigation Investment Entities (LIEs) on at least a quarterly basis and attempting to shed light on this growing but nonetheless little-understood part of the patent litigation landscape.  o ⚓ Unified Patents ☛ $12,000_for_SoftBank_entity,_Neo_Wireless, prior_art⠀⇛ On February 21, 2023, Unified added 6 new PATROLL contests, with a $2,000 cash prize for each, seeking prior art on the list below. The patents are owned by Neo Wireless, LLC, an NPE and SoftBank subsidiary. The contests will all end on May 1, 2023. Please visit PATROLL for more information or click on each link below. o ⚓ Unified Patents ☛ Hilco_Global_entity_Bell_Semiconductor integrated_circuit_patent_reexam_granted⠀⇛ On February 17, 2023, less than two months after Unified filed_an_ex_parte_reexamination, the USPTO granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on the challenged claims of U.S._Patent 7,007,259, owned and asserted by Bell_Semiconductor_LLC, an NPE and entity of Hilco_Global. The ‘259 patent relates to a method of prioritizing dummy fill in a semiconductor chip. o ⚓ Unified Patents ☛ $2,000_for_Flick_Intelligence_content_display patent_prior_art⠀⇛ A new PATROLL contest, with a $2,000 cash prize, was added seeking prior art on at least claim 1 of U.S. Patent_9,465,451, owned by Flick Intelligence, LLC. The ‘451 patent generally relates to obtaining and displaying supplemental data about a displayed movie, show, event, or video game. * § Copyrights⠀➾ o ⚓ Creative Commons ☛ This_Is_Not_a_Bicycle:_Human_Creativity_and Generative_AI⠀⇛ The rapid development of this technology has caught the attention of many, offering the promise of revolutionizing how we create art, conduct work, and even live our daily lives. At the same time, these impressive new tools have also raised questions about the nature of art and creativity and what role law and policy should play in both fostering the development of AI and protecting individuals from possible harms that can come from AI. o ⚓ Creative Commons ☛ Félix_Nartey_—_Open_Culture_VOICES,_Season_2 Episode_3⠀⇛ Open Culture VOICES is a series of short videos that highlight the benefits and barriers of open culture as well as inspiration and advice on the subject of opening up cultural heritage.  Felix is a Senior Program Officer at the Wikimedia Foundation and also volunteers with Creative Commons and Mozilla to promote the Commons and Open Access. o ⚓ Torrent Freak ☛ Brazil_Shuts_Major_Anime_Piracy_Sites_–_It_Might Be_Hiding_Something_Bigger⠀⇛ Brazil’s Ministry of Justice says that an operation to protect Japanese anime content has shut down two of the largest anime piracy sites in the country. The names of the sites appear to be a secret, so inevitably that makes them much more interesting. What we found may be bigger than naming two sites. More sites are also offline – big ones too. o ⚓ Torrent Freak ☛ Bungie_Requests_$6.7_Million_Default_Judgment Against_LaviCheats⠀⇛ Game developer Bungie continues its legal crusade against cheat sellers. The company has requested a $6.7m default judgment against the alleged operator of LaviCheats, who failed to show up in court. LaviCheats removed Destiny 2 cheats from its website but then began promoting other potentially-related sites. o ⚓ Techdirt ☛ Sports_Illustrated_Sure_Looks_Like_It’s_Trading_Human Journalists_for_AI⠀⇛ Karl just wrote about CNET, a once-vaunted resource for tech journalism, absolutely stepping on every rake it could find by using AI-generated content that was absolutely laughable: the content tended to be inaccurate, plagiarized, or otherwise so full of mistakes that an army of editors had to rework the content, largely wiping away any cost savings the site was hoping to achieve. Good times all around. o ⚓ Gizmodo ☛ Flood_of_AI-Generated_Stories_Prompts_Sci-Fi_Magazine to_Shut_Down_Submissions⠀⇛ The Hugo award-winning Science Fiction-focused Clarkesworld Magazine can receive over 12,000 submissions in just one year. o ⚓ Vice Media Group ☛ Legendary_Sci-Fi_Magazine_Halts_Submissions Amid_Deluge_of_AI-Written_Stories⠀⇛ “We don’t have a solution for the problem. We have some ideas for minimizing it, but the problem isn’t going away,” the editor of Clarkesworld said. o ⚓ Public Domain Review ☛ Dool-Hoff:_A_Dutch_Maze_with_New_Jerusalem at_its_Centre_(1705)⠀⇛ This 1705 maze instructs Christians on the possible pathways to New Jerusalem (and dead-ends to be avoided). § Gemini* and Gopher⠀➾ * § Personal⠀➾ o ⚓ needing_cozyness,_an_entrance_into_the_Smol_Pub⠀⇛ ::removes hat, shakes it vigorously as my eyes glance across the pub with anticipation:: Wow, there’s a dumpster on fire outside, everybody be careful if/when you have to go out there again! It’s dark out, so the blaze lights the surroundings well, but it is raining, so things will tamper down soon. If the Midnight ~bartender is on staff this evening, I’ll have an espresso. If The Midnight and Smol Pub do not share staff, I’ll just help myself to what I have in my thermos. I’m still here, around on the Smol Web, as it has been “a place” for me since 2018. A great many of us seem to be migrating to these parts, it seems, but nary a few will truly appreciate the *ideals* and *concepts* behind WHY the Smol Web is. But it (the Smol Web) is welcoming, so anyone can come about, be themselves, and things will work out 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇:)⦈ o ⚓ Adapting_the_game⠀⇛ The simplest changes, mechanically, would be to change the list of talents. Pick a theme, decide upon careers, imagine the rolls you want to make. Don’t focus on the activities: only the activities where you want randomized outcomes are important. For a science fiction game like Dune… People like Sardaukar and Fremen need Fighting talents: Swords, Knives, Bolters, Unarmed. Is the use of Shields or Battledress something to roll for? Are there characters that don’t know how to use shields? Perhaps it’s better to just assume that without Shields you’re a soft target and bolters deal 5d6 damage. o ⚓ Star_Gazing_2023-02-21_Evening_(Fairbanks,_AK,_US)⠀⇛ God gave me an unexpected opening in the clouds last night, which I had not forseen from the NWS data or forecasts. There were thin, scattered clouds, but it was clear enough that I decided to head down to the boat launch, at about 8pm AKST. From the GOES images, it looked like clouds might roll in any minute, so I decided not to waste time loading up and setting up my telescope, but instead I just brought the binoculars, as well as an old hunting scope I found. o ⚓ 🔤SpellBinding:_DEHORTX_Wordo:_OHHHH⠀⇛ * § Politics⠀➾ o ⚓ Roast_–_Colombia_&_Tanzania⠀⇛ a repeat of the colombia from last time and a new tanzania. my last roast of the kenya was way underdone so my goal for these roasts was to slow down the rate-of- rise descent and use a lighter touch on the power to not stall. it seems to have worked great and i got good looking and smelling roasts from both! learning!! * § Technical⠀➾ o ⚓ Searching!⠀⇛ Note: This article covers http and gemini. Up to 2000, I used a variety of search engines: AskJeeves (later, Ask.com), HotBot, Lycos, Yahoo, and others whose names I can no longer recall. I vaguely remember using Archie on dial-up text browsing, but cannot remember much about it beyond that it was used for FTP searches, and later Veronica for searching Gopher sites. I used Google regularly starting about 2000. It helped me the summer I was a fact checker for a weekly paper in Philadelphia. Over time I became more concerned with the surveillance aspects of Google products. When I learned about DuckDuckGo in 2010 or 2011 I started trying it out. For a few years, I jumped back and forth between search engines but by about 2013 or 2014 I started using DDG only. o ⚓ We_need_to_talk_about_your_Github_addiction⠀⇛ Listen my fellow geeks in code, we need to have a serious conversation about Github. At first, Github was only a convenient way to host a git repository and to collaborate with others. But, as always with monopolies, once you are trapped by convenience and the network effect, the shitification process starts to try to get as much money and data from you. First of all, let’s remember that Github is a fully proprietary service. Using it to host the development of a free software makes no sense if you value freedom. It is not like we don’t have many alternatives available (sourcehut, codeberg, gitlab, etc). It should be noted that those alternatives usually offer a better workflow and a better git integration than Github. They usually make more sense but, I agree, it might be hard to change ten years of suboptimal habits imposed by the github workflow. o ⚓ Privacy_Needs_Anonymity⠀⇛ When you send a message to a friend on Facebook, Google, or other big messaging services, the company running the service often claims not to be able to read the contents of your messages. For the most part, I actually believe that to be true. But these days, they don’t need to. o ⚓ Injection⠀⇛ Rumor has it that full-size Edge ads are being injected by They Who Shall Not Be Named on the Chrome website; I say rumor as I have no direct experience of this. Some languages have observationals and evidentials for this sort of hearsay, while in English we must typically use elaborations. o ⚓ Binary_wrist_watch⠀⇛ Interestingly, while telling the time was somewhat cumbersome at first, it is rapidly getting easier. I have realised that I am starting to simply memorise quite a few positions, so that I can often read the time at a glance. I have also begun to notice patterns I had not really thought about or considered before wearing a watch like this. For example, any time you have a combination and it moves one place to the left it is (obviously) doubling. Since 000011 is 3, 000110 is therefore 6 and 001100 is 12. That means that as you learn basic patterns (when combining smaller numbers), you can use them to quickly understand bigger combinations that look the same. o ⚓ Exciting_news!_&_cool_watches⠀⇛ I am accepted into a masters program on Byzantine music theory! I’m very excited about it. The program is only about a year and a half, which is nice. Probably I’ll find some part-time work too, like being a barista or something. o ⚓ Alternative_OS’s⠀⇛ i’m thinking i might delve back into the fun and joys that are weird alternative os things. every few years i like to wander off the beaten path, and try things like haiku, redux, amigaOS. just weird but fun things. o § Internet/Gemini⠀➾ # ⚓ Replacing_Duckling_with_Stargate,_a_new_Gemini-to-HTTP gateway⠀⇛ A few months back, I quietly added a “raw mode” to NewsWaffle. Normally, NewsWaffle takes the HTML of a news article and uses a port of the Readability library to extract the news article. It then runs the article HTML through a custom HTML-to-gemtext converter that I have tuned on the HTML and structure typically present in news websites. Sometimes Readability fails to find an article, or fully extract it, so I added in “raw mode” as a kind of backup which would convert all of the HTML. The output wasn’t as clean as the optimized article view, but at least this meant that users could see the content. But this also meant that users could use NewsWaffle in raw mode to view any HTML page over HTTP! It was in essense a super hacky general Gemini-to-HTTP gateway. Over the next month or so I would find myself taking especially bad, slow, or gross website URLs and pasting them into NewWaffle’s “Enter your own favorite news site” feature and then view them in raw mode. It was an OK way to clean up the content and make it readable. o § Programming⠀➾ # ⚓ Old_Molly_Metcalfe_hacking_Lisp⠀⇛ =============================================================================== * Gemini_(Primer) links can be opened using Gemini_software. It’s like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter. ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ ¶ Lines in total: 8234 ➮ Generation completed at 02:42, i.e. 74 seconds to (re)generate ⟲