𝕿𝖊𝖈𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘 Bulletin for Sunday, November 12, 2023 ┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅ Generated Mon 13 Nov 02:49:33 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/2023/11/12/ ╒═══════════════════ 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐒 ════════════════════════════════════╕ Previous bulletins in IPFS (past 21 days, in chronological order): QmbHjgPAAcGNUG9Sej4vSKhK8DfUYokfFkXLdKwr1JtGJG QmdLsuRLzrwb58dZaSmJah6oCmNNZ6cW4ick4chqJmHjmY QmTNR3uqcbMYjPAbbHjBqyNJb3ib8kytQvdFnATzkBFVvo QmfCHrqMLfMsHXYnQeAvVuNYt91Zw2AmMJ5mx4RqsrWy3b QmR2rr1yXDANjQBEz2oGtd2UMgy9U37FHdjpUhPfAk7h5z QmWE6ucdKk9Q1pi6ce3ko9xPWd9Y4BjpLij3W7tJ5TMjG3 QmaoEDiALTYYZdaq3SQ86aQpMwUji1nqCeLbXAoszFRYvJ QmSTkZUY74BcgbgqS6JKwwNbVnbzY5uqwpgWtYonGJua8s QmXZcp3rXLYa24pYd7jUu6sPDrhziRCNCok875WLJTLysP QmUE7nd24kx2soZFbSYKDsb1ik1wpirFTRTBhDTj6w9sjh QmdKeWBhfnjgQLYU48wto7DdStpXsB5mE1yEEnWcxQ53vu QmfSnnTnjcAe3YvtRsVgAwUJfpcEk1dM5J5yjJLyv7MxqM QmQ16CkpxBbMzPZ6wZcuKBUcxH1RZ8uAEhcvdBsPRpVZe9 QmT3gTQRv33wEDtJveL8DiqiacGeRaxEbRFDUyVSJEAvDL QmTs9qcwghZPs5oBh9qzsu8a11T4s6xHrJjVNyk5miFy3X Qmdqd6mb8mj27qVvQZRR7sjshrXYYirWm9vRttLkNB5rW6 QmSjY85vxbu9nNFHUMmuK7CxRame2VYuhb523CJaK5zRkj QmZwah9nZHVvSzbJWEAMxumYDpanFPqTahnqoNP83tuZbx QmQWSrGfeYwgf6HE9N3742DJrJwq8uNSCUAz469CnuUFGe QmcgTTyseF5zFd4MLquM4PtJZzkFcBEqaUbqDe4eaUx6Na QmZMEFKvpgvjxAcV9Pwu7yF74LYZwS7ktdLFdYb988Ncfu ╒═══════════════════ 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐗 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⦿ Techrights - IRC Proceedings: Saturday, November 11, 2023 ䷼ Bulletin articles (as HTML) to comment on (requires login): https://news.techrights.org/n/2023/11/12/irc-log-111123.shtml ䷞ Followed by Daily Links (assorted news picks curated and categorised): https://news.techrights.org/n/2023/11/12/Links_12_11_2023_Brand_Safety_Killing_Publishers.shtml https://news.techrights.org/n/2023/11/12/Links_12_11_2023_US_Tries_to_Mend_Relationship_With_China_Moody.shtml ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 48 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╕ (ℹ) Images, hyperlinks and comments at https://news.techrights.org/n/2023/11/12/irc-log-111123.shtml Gemini version at gemini://gemini.techrights.org/n/2023/11/12/irc-log-111123.gmi ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ IRC Proceedings: Saturday, November 11, 2023⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ posted by Roy Schestowitz on Nov 12, 2023 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇GN 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇GNOME_Gedit⦈_ #techrights_log #boycottnovell_log 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇GN 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴_🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽_⦇GNOME_Gedit⦈_ #boycottnovell-social_log #techbytes_log Enter_the_IRC_channels_now ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 80 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ Links 12/11/2023: "Brand Safety" Killing Publishers⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ posted by Roy Schestowitz on Nov 12, 2023 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GNOME bluefish⦈ § Contents⠀➾ * Leftovers o Science o Hardware o Health/Nutrition/Agriculture o Proprietary/Artificial_Intelligence_(AI) o Security # Privacy/Surveillance o Defence/Aggression o Transparency/Investigative_Reporting o Environment # Energy/Transportation # Wildlife/Nature # Overpopulation o Finance o AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics o Censorship/Free_Speech o Freedom_of_Information_/_Freedom_of_the_Press o Civil_Rights/Policing o Monopolies # Copyrights * Gemini*_and_Gopher o Personal/Opinions o Technology_and_Free_Software # Internet/Gemini # Programming * § Leftovers⠀➾ o ⚓ [Old] CoryDoctorow ☛ Schizmogenesis⠀⇛ This notion grabbed me, because it explained so much about the changes in attitudes I’d seen among my (erstwhile?) friends and allies in the “progressive” world during the Trump years and through the covid pandemic. Specifically, it explained how people who considered themselves politically liberal or even leftist were transformed into defenders of voting machine companies and the pharmaceutical industry, and champions of the FBI. o ⚓ Zach Flower ☛ Over-Engineering_a_#100DaysToOffload_Counter_in Jekyll⠀⇛ Alright, so I've re-kicked off this #100DaysToOffload challenge, and despite the fact that it's only been like 2 days, I've remembered just how tedious counting the posts can be. I mean, I've gotta open my last post, copy the challenge footer, paste it in the new post, increment the counter... ugh, too much work. So, I did what any good engineer would do, and I decided to automate it. o ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Ham_Radio_Memes_In_The_1970s⠀⇛ If you have a fondness for old and unusual ham gear, [Saveitforparts] has a great video (see below) about a Robot slow scan receiver he found at a junk store.  Slow scan or SSTV is a way to send pictures via low-bandwidth audio, such as you often find on the ham bands. The idea is you take a picture, send some squeaks and blips over the air, and in about 8 or 10 seconds, a single frame of video shows up at the receiver. Hams aren’t the only ones who used it. The Apollo missions used an SSTV system in some cases, too. o ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Neopixels?_Try_Liquid_Nitrogen_To_Color_Shift_Your LEDs_Instead⠀⇛ If you’re like us, you’ve never spent a second thinking about what happens when you dunk an ordinary LED into liquid nitrogen. That’s too bad because as it turns out, the results are pretty interesting and actually give us a little bit of a look at the quantum world. o ⚓ YLE ☛ Hundreds_of_Finns_emigrate_to_Norway_every_year⠀⇛ More Finns are now moving to Norway, instead of Sweden, in search of better earning opportunities, reports Finnish news agency STT on Saturday. o § Science⠀➾ # ⚓ Jacobin Magazine ☛ 2023-11-07_[Older]_Alexander_Bogdanov Was_One_of_Russia’s_Great_Revolutionary_Thinkers_and_a_Sci-Fi Pioneer⠀⇛ # ⚓ Off Guardian ☛ Dr._Richter’s_Diabolical_Experiment⠀⇛ Ever heard of Dr. Curt Richter? Neither had I. During the time in the United States where nearly anything was done in the name of science (these days, not so much, now anything is done in the name of money) Dr. Curt Richter, a renowned physiologist and behavioral scientist, conducted his seminal experiments [...] Dr. Richter was a hero in the science world, of course. What he determined in his little reprehensible experiment is that at least rats were capable of expending energy to stay alive if they were led (falsely) to believe they would at some point be saved, i.e., their efforts to stay alive could continue almost indefinitely if they believed those efforts would pay off. # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Each_of_Your_Nostrils_Smells_The_World Uniquely,_Study_Reveals⠀⇛ Sniffing in stereo. # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Mastering_Your_Body's_Internal_Clock_Could Be_The_Key_to_Success⠀⇛ Are you in sync? o § Hardware⠀➾ # ⚓ [Repeat] Security Week ☛ Intel_Sued_Over_‘Downfall’_CPU Vulnerability⠀⇛ A 112-page class action complaint was filed this week by plaintiffs represented by Bathaee Dunne. News of a Bathaee Dunne-led lawsuit against Intel over the Downfall vulnerability emerged in late August, when the law firm announced that it was preparing to file a complaint. The plaintiffs say the Intel CPUs they have purchased are “defective” because they are either left vulnerable to cyberattacks or they have significantly slower performance due to the vulnerability fixes made available by the chip giant. The complaint says Intel has known about speculative execution vulnerabilities in its processors since 2018, when cybersecurity researchers disclosed the existence of two attack methods named Meltdown and Spectre. # ⚓ Tom's Hardware ☛ Fastest_3D_Printers_Benchmarked:_Top Printers_Ranked_By_Output_Time⠀⇛ 3D printers are getting faster. To find out who rules the roost, we tested the leading FDM-style printers and looked at how long it took them to print a ‘benchy’ model. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ A_Mysterious_6502_Apple_2_Simulator⠀⇛ Nice, visual simulators of CPUs such as the 6502 are usually made much later and with more modern tooling than what they simulate. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if a simulator runs on the very hardware it’s simulating? o § Health/Nutrition/Agriculture⠀➾ # ⚓ The Hill ☛ America’s_veterans_didn’t_sign_up_for_privatized health_care⠀⇛ Soaring costs and a significant decline in accessibility, especially for veterans in rural areas, are part of private care’s vast dangers. The existing private, for-profit community care program has already led to fragmentation of care, causing challenges in securing medical records from private providers and leading to redundant tests, which results in a waste of money and resources. Privatization erodes the VA’s ability to maintain control over the quality of care veterans receive, as community care providers lack the specialized expertise that VA providers possess in meeting our veterans’ unique needs. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ The_Only_People_Who_Understand_What_a Caregiver_Goes_Through⠀⇛ Mentoring programs bring together those just starting to care for family members with dementia and those who have been coping for some time. # ⚓ The Kent Stater ☛ Naloxone_aids_fight_against_evolving opioid_epidemic⠀⇛ From 2014 to 2022, approximately 551,772 naloxone kits have been distributed throughout Ohio through Project DAWN, an Ohio Department of Health program – generating 68,586 known overdose reversals. # ⚓ YLE ☛ Silja_cancels_cruises_over_legionnaires'_disease fears⠀⇛ Ferry firm Tallink Silja is cancelling departures after legionnaires' disease was discovered aboard one of its ships. o § Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)⠀➾ # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ The_World_Is_Running_Out_of_Data_to_Feed AI,_Experts_Warn⠀⇛ Similarly, the stable diffusion algorithm (which is behind many AI image-generating apps such as DALL- E, Lensa and Midjourney) was trained on the LIAON- 5B dataset comprising of 5.8 billion image-text pairs. If an algorithm is trained on an insufficient amount of data, it will produce inaccurate or low-quality outputs. The quality of the training data is also important. Low-quality data such as social media posts or blurry photographs are easy to source, but aren't sufficient to train high-performing AI models. # ⚓ India Times ☛ Deepfakes_reveal_dark_side_of_AI,_call_for stringent_laws⠀⇛ If you have seen former US President Barack Obama calling Donald Trump a "complete dipshit", or Zuckerberg having "total control of billions of people's stolen data" — and more recently a deepfake video of actor Rashmika Mandana that went viral on social media - you probably know what deepfake is. # ⚓ The Strategist ☛ How_to_win_the_artificial_general intelligence_race_and_not_end_humanity⠀⇛ These developments indicate that governments are starting to take the potential benefits and risks of AI equally seriously. But as the security implications of AI become clearer, it’s vital that democracies outcompete authoritarian political systems to ensure future AI models reflect democratic values and are not concentrated in institutions beholden to the whims of dictators. At the same time, countries must proceed cautiously, with adequate guardrails, and shut down unsafe AI projects when necessary. o § Security⠀➾ # § Privacy/Surveillance⠀➾ # ⚓ The Register UK ☛ Meta,_YouTube_face_criminal_spying complaints_in_Ireland⠀⇛ Two weeks ago, Hanff filed a civil complaint to the Irish Data Protection Commission against YouTube's browser interrogation system, which detects ad blocking software and refuses to play videos unless adverts are allowed or subscription money handed over. The regulators are right now waiting on a reply from Google to provide an update on the status of that claim. # ⚓ Pierre Equoy ☛ Pixel_8:_the_good,_the_bad,_and_the Google⠀⇛ I still needed a smartphone, so I went ahead and bought the Pixel 8. And, as I expected, even though the hardware seemed great, the software was a nightmare. # ⚓ Tech Central (South Africa) ☛ South_Africa’s_informal sector_is_ditching_cash_fast⠀⇛ Card payment growth is muscling in on cash and outstripping other payment methods in South Africa’s informal economy, new research shows. The digitisation of payments in the cash- driven informal economy is shining a light on consumer behaviour in what is often thought of as the country’s invisible or “dark” sector. # ⚓ Futurism ☛ Police_Scanned_Beyoncé_Concert_for Pedophiles,_Terrorists⠀⇛ Michael said the police department had a facial recognition van parked outside a concert hall in Cardiff on May 17, with the system comparing attendees' faces to a watch list of suspected terrorists and pedophiles. Footage, he said, was kept for a maximum of 31 days. # ⚓ BBC ☛ Beyoncé's_Cardiff_gig_crowd_was_scanned_for paedophiles⠀⇛ A live facial recognition camera works by comparing faces with a "watch list" generated by police. The CCTV footage is recorded and kept for up to 31 days. The use of the cameras has been criticised by human rights campaigners. # ⚓ The Register UK ☛ Google_dragged_to_UK_watchdog_over Chrome's_upcoming_IP_address_cloaking⠀⇛ The Movement for an Open Web (MOW), an organization that has lobbied against Google's Privacy Sandbox initiative by claiming it's harmful to rival [Internet] advertising businesses, has filed a complaint with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over Google's IP Protection proposal. IP Protection, previously referred to as "ip- blindness" or "Gnatcatcher," is a proxy system similar to Apple's Privacy Relay. It's designed to run Chrome browser connections through two proxies, one operated by Google and one operated by a third-party (eg, Cloudflare), so that the true public IP address of the user is obscured, hopefully thwarting attempts to track them around the web using that address. o § Defence/Aggression⠀➾ # ⚓ Omicron Limited ☛ World_temperatures_will_blow_past_Paris goals_this_decade,_asserts_new_study⠀⇛ The study, which is published in the journal Oxford Open Climate Change, asserts that many previous forecasts of future warming have used faulty assumptions about the sensitivity of the Earth's atmosphere to greenhouse-gas levels. They also say that recent major reductions in aerosol pollutants, which reflect energy back into space, is admitting more solar radiation to the surface, supercharging the rate of warming. Scientists have known since the 1800s that greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and methane warm the Earth's surface, and that their abundance changes naturally as well as from human actions. Today, due to human emissions, carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, has reached levels that have not existed for millions of years. At about 420 parts per million in 2023, levels are about 50% higher than in preindustrial times. The result has been a rise in the global average temperature of about 1.2°C, or 2.2°F. # ⚓ Deutsche Welle ☛ EU_launches_TikTok,_YouTube_child protection_probe⠀⇛ It said it wanted to know what measures YouTube and TikTok had implemented to comply with the DSA, especially with regards to the protection of children. The commission said it asked for information on the firms' "obligations related to risk assessments and mitigation measures to protect minors online, in particular with regard to the risks to mental health and physical health, and on the use of their services by minors." The commission said that it will announce next steps based on an assessment of the companies' replies, which could include the "formal opening of proceedings." # ⚓ Quillette ☛ Gaza,_Islam,_and_the_West⠀⇛ The question of the place of Islam in Western culture is particularly acute in France—home to the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe. In 2016, Pew Research estimated that 8.8 percent of the French population was Muslim, and that this could grow to as much as 18 percent by 2050. Since most elections are won by smaller margins than this, Muslims may—if they form an organised voting bloc—play an influential if not decisive role in French elections in the future. Who is likely to profit from this? And how might Islam manifest itself politically? There are two principal possibilities. The first is that Muslims form an alliance with the progressive Left, a scenario imagined in Michel Houellebecq’s 2015 novel Submission. In that book, Mohammed Ben Abbes, leader of the Muslim Fraternity, beats Marine Le Pen in the presidential election in an alliance with the Socialist party and implements Sharia. The novel ends with François, a Sorbonne professor, settling in to a surprisingly comfortable life of submission to the regime. # ⚓ Tech Central (South Africa) ☛ South_Africa_to_miss_‘legally binding’_2030_emissions_goal⠀⇛ South Africa will miss its binding 2030 carbon emissions targets under the Paris climate agreement, three senior government officials confirmed, as the country plans to run eight coal- fired power plants for longer than planned. South Africa is the world’s 11th biggest greenhouse gas emitter and has one of the world’s highest per capita emissions. # ⚓ Salon ☛ Far-right_MAGA_theocrats:_Most_dangerous_threat_to America⠀⇛ While the world burns, Johnson and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party — which seems to have swallowed the evangelical movement while also embracing it (a T-1000 morphing into Sarah Connor is just about the right image) — is embracing the darkest verses of the Bible, apparently pushing for apocalypse with an enthusiasm only rivaled by Saul’s slaughter of Christians before he changed his name to Paul. # ⚓ Pro Publica ☛ Two_Women_Died_on_an_Alaska_Mayor’s_Property. No_One_Has_Ever_Been_Charged.⠀⇛ On a subzero Monday morning in March 2020, police found another woman dead at the ex-mayor’s property. Two years earlier, the body of 25-year-old Jennifer Kirk lay curled at the foot of a bed, a rifle on the floor, strangulation marks on her neck and a bullet hole beneath her chin. City police swiftly closed the case, declaring it a suicide. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Russian_City_Blocks_Protest_By_Soldiers'_Relatives, Citing_Pandemic_Restrictions⠀⇛ The mayor’s office of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk has rejected an application by relatives of mobilized soldiers fighting in Ukraine to hold a demonstration, citing measures instituted to combat the spread of COVID-19. # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Texas_Police_Put_an_11-Year-Old_Into_Solitary Confinement⠀⇛ # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Today_Let’s_Honor_the_Veterans_Who_Have_Turned Against_the_US_War_Machine⠀⇛ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ The_Beached_Philippine_Ship_That_Is Angering_China⠀⇛ After multiple maritime clashes, the Philippines invited journalists on a mission to resupply the Sierra Madre. A reporter for The Times was given rare access. # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Chinese_vessels_engage_in_high-seas chase_of_Philippine_boat_carrying_journalists⠀⇛ As a Philippine Coast Guard rubber boat carrying journalists sped towards Filipino troops on a grounded navy vessel in the disputed South China Sea, three Chinese speed boats gave chase. # ⚓ Tom's Hardware ☛ No,_Nvidia_Isn't_Breaking_GPU_Sanctions Against_China,_Says_Analyst⠀⇛ Analyst first back at claims that Nvidia is circumventing US Hey Hi (AI) GPU sanctions against China. We dive deeper into the context. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ NVIDIA_Trains_Custom_AI_To_Assist_Chip Designers⠀⇛ AI is big news lately, but as with all new technology moves, it’s important to pierce through the hype. Recent news about NVIDIA creating a custom large language model (LLM) called ChipNeMo to assist in chip design is tailor-made for breathless hyperbole, so it’s refreshing to read exactly how such a thing is genuinely useful. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ In_Veterans_Day_Speech,_Trump_Promises_to ‘Root_Out’_the_Left⠀⇛ The former president said that threats from abroad were less concerning than liberal “threats from within” and that he was a “very proud election denier.” # § Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine⠀➾ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-09_[Older] Treasury's_Adeyemo_Says_'Far_Better'_to_See_Russia Buying_Tankers_Than_Tanks⠀⇛ # ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ 2023-11-08_[Older]_Russians_not collectively_to_blame_for_Ukraine_war:_Human_rights expert⠀⇛ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-07_[Older]_US Commerce_Dept_Suspends_Exports_of_3_Companies_Over Russia_Sales⠀⇛ # ⚓ Deutsche Welle ☛ 2023-11-07_[Older]_NATO_suspends_key Cold_War_treaty_after_Russia_pulls_out⠀⇛ # ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ 2023-11-06_[Older]_The_Hurdles_of Modernization:_Russia’s_Unlikely_Path_Forward⠀⇛ # ⚓ NL Times ☛ 2023-11-06_[Older]_Dutch_products_ending up_in_Russia_via_Turkey⠀⇛ # ⚓ Deutsche Welle ☛ 2023-11-06_[Older]_Russia_appeals Olympics_suspension_to_international_court⠀⇛ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Johnson_Pitches_Bill_to_Avert Government_Shutdown_That_Faces_an_Uncertain_Fate⠀⇛ The measure would extend funding for some agencies through late January, and for others until early February. It omits funding for Ukraine or Israel. # ⚓ Marcy Wheeler ☛ Scott_Brady_Checked_In_on Investigations_into_All_of_Rudy_Giuliani’s_Ukrainian Oligarchs⠀⇛ Rudy Giuliani solicited Hunter Biden dirt from three corrupt Ukrainian oligarchs: Ihor Kolomoyskyi, Dmitry Firtash, and Mykola Zlochevsky. Scott Brady's efforts to "vet" dirt on Hunter Biden checked in with all three investigations. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Russia_Launches_Missile_at_Kyiv_for First_Time_in_Weeks,_Ukraine_Says⠀⇛ The attack was part of an overnight barrage that suggested Moscow was testing air defenses before another potential winter campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. # ⚓ Meduza ☛ Washington_Post:_Ukrainian_colonel coordinated_Nord_Stream_pipeline_attack:_The_officer, currently_in_a_Kyiv_detention_center,_denies_any involvement_—_Meduza⠀⇛ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ One_Man’s_Mission_to_Give_Soviet World_War_II_Soldiers_Decent_Burials⠀⇛ Konstantin Dobrovolsky searches for the remains of soldiers left to rot on the battlefield almost 80 years ago. Then he had to bury his own son, who fought in a war he despises. # ⚓ The Straits Times ☛ Germany_set_to_double_its_Ukraine military_aid_under_Scholz_plan:_Report⠀⇛ German chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition has agreed to double German military aid for Ukraine next year to 8 billion euros ($8.54 billion), Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Ukraine_Says_Situation_In_South,_East 'Remains_Difficult'_Amid_Russian_Onslaught⠀⇛ Ukraine’s military late on November 11 said the situation in the east and south of the country “remains difficult,” citing dozens of Russian air strikes and rocket attacks, even as Ukraine marked the first anniversary of the liberation of the strategic city of Kherson. # ⚓ France24 ☛ Russian_missile_strike_targets_Kyiv, Ukraine_marks_one_year_since_Kherson_city's liberation⠀⇛ Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s capital as part of an overnight bombardment felt across the country, local officials said Saturday. In the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, residents on Saturday celebrated the recapture of Kherson city from Russian forces a year ago, the last major shift of the front line. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ IMF_Staff,_Ukraine_Reach_Agreement_On_$900 Million_In_Funding_Disbursement⠀⇛ Staff from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Ukrainian officials reached agreement on an updated set of economic and financial policies for the second review of the four-year Extended Fund Facility to allow disbursement of $900 million in funding, subject to approval by the IMF board. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Ukrainian_Drones_Intercepted_Over_Moscow_and Smolensk_Regions,_Russian_Military_Claims⠀⇛ The Russian Defense Ministry said late on November 10 that air-defense forces had intercepted two Ukrainian drones over the territories of the Moscow and Smolensk regions just before midnight. # ⚓ Meduza ☛ Russian_Investigative_Committee_opens terrorism_case_after_freight_train_derails_in_Ryazan region_—_Meduza⠀⇛ # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Sabotage_Suspected_After_Russian_Freight Train_Derails_In_Ryazan_Region⠀⇛ Russian authorities said sabotage is suspected after a freight train with 19 wagons derailed early on November 11 in the Ryazan region, injuring at least one railway employee. The news comes on the same day that another suspected sabotage incident was reported at a Russian munitions factory. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ U.S._Treasury_Chief_Warns_Beijing:_Chinese Firms_Aiding_Russia_Face_'Significant_Consequences'⠀⇛ U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on November 10 that the U.S. government had seen evidence that Chinese firms may be aiding in the flow of equipment to Russia's war effort despite Western sanctions. o § Transparency/Investigative Reporting⠀➾ # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Elon_Musk_Wants_Me_Fired._The_People_of_San Francisco_Want_Him_Taxed.⠀⇛ o § Environment⠀➾ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ In_UN_Talks_for_a_Global_Plastic Treaty,_Delegates_to_Face_off_Over_Production_Limits⠀⇛ The world is currently producing about 400 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, with less than 10% of it being recycled, according to the UN Environment Programme, choking landfills and despoiling oceans. That produced amount is set to surge in the coming decade, as oil companies, which often also produce plastics, look to new sources of revenue amid the energy transition away from fossil fuels. Today, about 98% of single-use plastic - like bottles or packaging -is derived from fossil fuel, according to the U.N. Environment Programme. # § Energy/Transportation⠀➾ # ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ 2023-11-08_[Older]_Russia’s Dynamic_Energy_Cooperation_with_Africa⠀⇛ # ⚓ Ruben Schade ☛ The_Economist_fails_to_defend_car dependency⠀⇛ This whole article was a lesson in lies and statistics. By hand waving about speed, accessibility, and diversity, they attempted to paint what they admit is an “addiction” as a good thing, by saying it makes society “fairer and more efficient”. They failed. One could argue the Economist got what they wanted out of this, thanks to a click-bait title and links to their journalism (such as it as). You might be right. But we need to tackle bad ideas like this. # ⚓ YLE ☛ Possible_Icelandic_eruption_won't_impact flights,_says_Finnish_expert⠀⇛ Iceland has declared a state of emergency as earthquakes rock the country. # § Wildlife/Nature⠀➾ # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Haunting_Animation_Shows_All_The Fires_Burning_in_Northern_Australia_The_Past_2_Months⠀⇛ "Pretty unfathomable". # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Mysterious_Origins_of_North_America's 'Last_Primate'_Finally_Emerge⠀⇛ We never knew where it came from. # § Overpopulation⠀➾ # ⚓ Associated Press ☛ Mexico_City_imposes_severe, monthslong_water_restrictions_as_drought_dries_up reservoirs⠀⇛ The Mexican National Water Commission and mayor announced the moves at a news conference, but officials did not report the cuts on social media until just four hours before they took effect. # ⚓ REFORMA ☛ Opinion_|_Out_of_sight,_out_of_mind,_out_of water.⠀⇛ More troubling, though, is the reality that the two nations have yet to ink an agreement addressing how these underground resources might be managed, shared, exploited, or protected. In fact, groundwater has long been neglected in Mexico-US political relations. Transboundary aquifers are excluded from the existing treaty regime, rarely appear on the binational agenda, and have only sporadically received the focus of federally funded research. Without cooperation, these resources are doomed to dwindle, jeopardizing the viability of the region’s communities, economic growth, and environment. o § Finance⠀➾ # ⚓ Softonic ☛ More_layoffs_in_the_video_game_industry: Warframe_studio_dismantles_its_publishing_department⠀⇛ The problematic situation in the video game industry persists, with numerous layoffs taking place. The Warframe studio, Digital Extremes, has announced staff layoffs and the permanent closure of its game publishing and distribution wing, focusing exclusively on development. This has a significant impact, particularly on Digital Extremes’ latest title, Wayfinder. The maintenance and distribution phase of Wayfinder will be handed over to Airship Syndicate, which will assume full control of the game. In this way, Digital Extremes will substantially reduce its workload and workforce. # ⚓ Tech_Giants_Implementing_Job_Cuts:_Google,_Amazon,_Snap, and_Others_Restructure_Workforces⠀⇛ As the festive season approaches, a cloud of uncertainty hovers over numerous tech professionals, courtesy of recent job cut announcements from major players like Google, Amazon, Snap, and more. The impact of these layoffs extends across product management, consumer services, and engineering roles globally, affecting employees in Latin America, North America, and Europe. # ⚓ Which_companies_are_not_laying_off? [Ed: You know this industry is tanking when you see headlines like these]⠀⇛ o § AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics⠀➾ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ For_Both_Trudeau_and_Biden,_Polls_Suggest an_Uphill_Political_Path⠀⇛ The economy, and particularly inflation, has soured voters on both leaders, polls indicate, though well in advance of upcoming votes. # ⚓ JURIST ☛ EU_court_rules_Austria_communications_regulation does_not_apply_to_foreign_platforms⠀⇛ Google, Meta and TikTok, all of which have subsidiaries established in Ireland, challenged the law in Austrian courts in June 2022. The Bundesgesetz über Maßnahmen zum Schutz der Nutzer auf Kommunikationsplattformen (Austrian Communication Platforms Act 2021) contained provisions seeking to protect users of communication platforms. The act attempted to regulate practices of all “domestic and foreign service providers which provide communication platforms with the intention of making a profit,” with exceptions based on low national usership and low profit. Article 3(2) of the EU’s electronic commerce directive stipulates that “Member States may not … restrict the freedom to provide information society services from another Member State,” subject to exceptions under Article 3(4), which include public policy, the protection of public health, public security and the protection of customers. The court held that the platforms are only subject to Irish law, as this is the country they are established in. It highlighted the effect allowing a member state to restrict foreign services would have on the EU’s core principles of mutual trust, mutual recognition and the internal market, which it found the directive sought to preserve. # ⚓ Federal News Network ☛ The_cultural_shift_that’s_needed_to see_greater_ROI_in_cyber⠀⇛ Acting National Cyber Director in the Office of the National Cyber Director Kemba Walden recently stated, “The success of the national cybersecurity strategy will be measured in part by the way companies get a return on their investment in building resilience.” The same holds true for federal agencies – the more ROI they’re able to see in their cyber investments and zero trust strategies, the more resilient we’ll all collectively be. So how can agencies adopting this outlook not only make smarter cyber investments but also ones that help them realize a greater ROI on existing investments? # ⚓ Daniel Miessler ☛ Why_I'm_Not_Getting_a_Humane_AI_Pin⠀⇛ Thinking about it for a while this last week I realized it’s because it confuses multiple different problems. # ⚓ The Register UK ☛ Apple_might_have_to_pay_that_€13B_EU_tax bill_after_all⠀⇛ For those having trouble recalling the nature of the disagreement, it reaches back a few years, beginning with a decision in 2018 that told Apple to hand over the aforementioned €13 billion to Irish tax officials after the European Commission decided Apple and Irish authorities had together broken state aid rules. # ⚓ The Straits Times ☛ ST_Picks:_6_things_to_know_about disgraced_Malaysian_MP_Syed_Saddiq⠀⇛ # ⚓ The Straits Times ☛ Australian_minister_touts_Tuvalu security_and_migration_pact⠀⇛ Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the pact showed that Australia was a "genuine, reliable" regional partner. # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Kosovar,_Israeli_Teams_Seek_To_Focus_On_Soccer_As Balkan_Nation_Steps_Up_Security⠀⇛ Kosovar police said on November 11 that they had stepped up security measures a day before the Euro 2024 qualifying soccer match between Kosovo and Israel, banning materials with religious and political content around and near the stadium in the capital, Pristina. # ⚓ France24 ☛ Macron_to_skip_anti-Semitism_march_amid political_bickering,_but_will_attend_in_‘thoughts’⠀⇛ French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not join a march on Sunday against anti-Semitism, but would attend it in his "thoughts". Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said she plans to attend the rally, triggering a round of bickering by political parties amid a surge in anti-Semitic incidents across France. o § Censorship/Free Speech⠀➾ # ⚓ Meduza ☛ Moscow_Prosecutor’s_Office_launches_investigation into_Russian_YouTuber_Yury_Dud_for_‘discrediting’_army_— Meduza⠀⇛ # ⚓ Meduza ☛ European_University_at_St._Petersburg_charged_with participating_in_activities_of_‘undesirable_organization’_— Meduza⠀⇛ # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Columbia_Suspends_Pro-Palestine_Student_Groups Amid_Crackdown_on_Free_Speech⠀⇛ # ⚓ Reason ☛ Speech_Defending_Attacks_on_Civilians:_A_Thought Experiment⠀⇛ I've heard some suggest that it's proper for universities to expel students for publicly defending the Hamas murders. (This has included both public universities and private universities that had pledged to protect student free speech.) Others have suggested that faculty members who defended the murders be fired. And there have been calls for nonacademic employers… o § Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press⠀➾ # ⚓ CoryDoctorow ☛ "Brand_safety"_killed_Jezebel⠀⇛ The main purpose of the culture war isn't immiserating marginalized people – that's its effect, but its purpose is to distract low- information turkeys (working people) so they'll vote for Christmas (the ongoing seizure of power by American oligarchs). For the funders of conservative movement politics, the cruelty isn't the point, it's merely the tactic. The point is power: [...] # ⚓ VOA News ☛ Turkey’s_Media_Regulator_Votes_to_Order_DW_to Obtain_License⠀⇛ The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) ruled on the move in a majority vote, saying the German broadcaster must comply with a Turkish licensing regulation enforced in 2019. RTUK has previously moved to block DW’s content in 32 languages under its dw.com domain, along with VOA Turkish over the refusal by both media outlets to obtain a license. Both international broadcasters said previously they could not comply with the regulation because of censorship concerns. # ⚓ JURIST ☛ HRW:_Burkina_Faso_conscription_plan_to_muzzle dissent_from_journalists_and_organizations⠀⇛ The interim military authorities in Burkina Faso claim that the conscription orders are justified under the “general mobilization” plan. This year- long plan was declared on April 13 this year by Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina’s transitional president who came to power in a coup, as a measure to combat increasing terrorism in the country and recapture 40 percent of the country’s territory, which is controlled by jihadists. The plan gives power to authorities to conscript people from the age of 18 if needed in the fight against jihadists. It also aims to give the authorities “all necessary means” to counter a spate of violent acts that are attributed to fighters associated with the Islamic State (IS). # ⚓ The Hindu ☛ Journalists_asked_to_uphold_dignity_of_the profession⠀⇛ Minister for Public Works and district-in-charge for Belagavi Satish Jarkiholi has called on the journalists to uphold the dignity of the profession through their impartial reports that throw light on the maladies and problems in the society. # ⚓ CPJ ☛ ‘Our_kids_miss_their_mom’:_Husband_of_journalist_Alsu Kurmasheva_speaks_out_about_her_detention_in_Russia⠀⇛ Kurmasheva is the second U.S. journalist to be held by Russia this year, after Russian authorities arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges in March. # ⚓ New Statesman ☛ Zombie_news:_the_strange_resurrection_of the_local_paper⠀⇛ On 8 November, journalists at the UK’s biggest commercial news publisher, Reach, joined a web meeting in which the company’s CEO, Jim Mullen, announced the latest wave of redundancies: 450 jobs would go, of which around 320 would be journalists. In what seems to have been a technical oversight, staff were able to comment on the livestream; as Mullen spoke, anonymous commenters asked why Mullen (whose experience lies mainly in the gambling industry) couldn’t spare some of his £4m salary, 174 times that of a typical reporter, and why his pay was so high when the company’s share price had fallen significantly. Another simply asked: “How long until we are all unemployed?” [...] Posing as a prospective advertiser, I asked PR Fire if it would be possible to run local politics stories on both sites. I stipulated that I would have to have complete control over the text and pictures in the stories, and that they would not be marked as advertising. To any editor, such a request should be taboo – but one of PR Fire’s directors guaranteed that my ads would run unedited, “not marked as sponsored or ad”, and that I would also have control over how the stories were presented on social media. In further emails, another PR Fire employee described how the pieces would be syndicated by news aggregators. Because these aggregators regarded them as news, published by an editorial website, these paid-for articles would receive “guaranteed syndication to Google News, MarketWatch, Reuters, DowJones & LexisNexis”, they wrote, as well as to “reputable news sites” including Microsoft Network or MSN, which is, at 750 million visits per month, one of the biggest websites in the world. Being featured on a site like this costs an extra £200, and also helps advertisers to move their narratives further up in Google search results. “MSN will look like editorial,” one email assured me. o § Civil Rights/Policing⠀➾ # ⚓ Futurism ☛ The_Guy_Behind_"Shrek"_Says_AI_Is_Going_to_Wipe Out_Human_Jobs_in_Animation⠀⇛ "In the good old days, you might need 500 artists and years to make a world-class animated movie," added the "Shrek" producer. "I don't think it will take 10 percent of that three years from now." # ⚓ Rolling Stone ☛ SAG-AFTRA_Reveals_How_Studios_Will_Handle AI_Replicas_of_Living_and_Dead_Actors⠀⇛ According to the deal, companies must request consent before making digital replicas of actors and must disclose what the replica will be used for. Actors will also receive compensation for the digital replicas. “We were engaged in a very serious fight with big companies over what was going to happen with respect to the use of generative AI to create what we call synthetic fake performers,” Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said. # ⚓ Craig Murray ☛ Fighting_Back_Against_the_State⠀⇛ It may seem hopeless, but we have to continue to hold back the tide of fascism with all our might. This letter is self-explanatory, and I think its staid legal argument brings out the absurdity of deeming me a terrorist danger to the UK. o § Monopolies⠀➾ # § Copyrights⠀➾ # ⚓ Torrent Freak ☛ "Top_10_Beast_TV_Reseller"_Faces Lawsuit_For_Selling_Pirate_IPTV_Packages⠀⇛ Pirate IPTV service Beast TV shut down in 2020 in response to a lawsuit filed in Canada by several Hollywood studios, Netflix, Amazon, and Bell Media. A lawsuit filed Thursday in the United States claims to target a former 'Top 10' Beast TV reseller who allegedly still sells Beast TV-branded subscriptions. When Beast was shut down almost three years ago, an announcement on the defendant's alleged site, posted under a name that matches his, claimed the service was still alive. * § Gemini* and Gopher⠀➾ o § Personal/Opinions⠀➾ # ⚓ 🔤SpellBinding_—_AEINXRO_Wordo:_OUSEL⠀⇛ o § Technology and Free Software⠀➾ # ⚓ This_week_—_Updating_Blog_Pages,_Grinding_in_Granblue Fantasy,_and_Looking_for_DRM-Free_Music⠀⇛ I've updated most of this blog's pages, grinded for a new perpetuity ring in GBF, made some progress in Pixel Cat's End and Pixpet, and attempted to find online stores that sell digital DRM-free music. Hello, everybody! This is just a short rundown of my week; at work, I got assigned to manage an orientation that's scheduled to take place very soon, while I'm still assisting with other training programs. Hence, I've been fairly exhausted during the weeknights again. # ⚓ Move_@_Around_the_Screen⠀⇛ A basic roguelike task is to get an @ moving around a screen. Here it is done in 16-bit assembly for the i386. Probably you will want QEMU unless you have an i386 lying around (and one that is compatible with this code. Various documentation indicates that there be bugs in PC BIOS land). nasm is required to assemble the binary. And cat. # § Internet/Gemini⠀➾ # ⚓ Bubble_v7.0:_Subspace_Views,_Grouped_Posts,_New_Feed Options_and_User_Actions⠀⇛ It has been four months since the previous Bubble feature update. This is plenty of time to observe how I and others have been using the system and think of potential improvements. This release makes substantial changes to show useful information that was previously unavailable, gives you more control over what is displayed on the front page, and applies a host of smaller tweaks to improve general usability. # § Programming⠀➾ # ⚓ Fantasy_Python_Dependency_Management_Wishes⠀⇛ Nothing in this article refers to real Python examples. This is a collection of thoughts on how I wish managing dependencies in Python worked; not how it actually does. # ⚓ Ready-made_regexp_replacers⠀⇛ Here are five Emacs functions that let you do stuff to words, vars, lines, sentences, or paragraphs. They’re called replace-word, replace-line, replace-paragraph, replace-var and replace- sentence. They have the same semantics as replace-regexp does, i.e. if the region is active it only affects stuff in there, otherwise it’ll affect from point to end-of- buffer. =============================================================================== * Gemini_(Primer) links can be opened using Gemini_software. It's like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter. ䷩ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 1485 ╒═══════════════════ 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 ═════════════════════════════════════════════╕ ⠀⌧ █▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ Links 12/11/2023: US Tries to Mend Relationship With China, Moody's Downgrade US Economy⠀▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█ ⌧ posted by Roy Schestowitz on Nov 12, 2023 🄸🄼🄰🄶🄴 🄳🄴🅂🄲🅁🄸🄿🅃🄸🄾🄽 ⦇GNOME bluefish⦈ § Contents⠀➾ * Leftovers o Science o Hardware o Health/Nutrition/Agriculture o Proprietary/Artificial_Intelligence_(AI) o Security # Integrity/Availability/Authenticity # 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 * Monopolies o Patents o Copyrights * Gemini*_and_Gopher o Personal/Opinions o Politics_and_World_Events o Technology_and_Free_Software # Internet/Gemini * § Leftovers⠀➾ o ⚓ New York Times ☛ Deadly_Johannesburg_Fire_Exposed_Years_of Neglect⠀⇛ Officials blame immigrants and liberal housing laws, but a Times investigation found the entrenched problems that turned downtown Johannesburg into a blighted tinderbox. o § Science⠀➾ # ⚓ Chris ☛ Huffman_Codes_–_How_Do_They_Work?⠀⇛ o § Hardware⠀➾ # ⚓ Tom's Hardware ☛ China's_SMIC_Foundry_Fumbles,_80%_Decline In_Profit⠀⇛ SMIC's profit in Q3 of this year was just 20% of what it was in Q3 of 2022. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Hands_On_With_Boondock_Echo⠀⇛ Perhaps no words fill me with more dread than, “I hear there’s something going around.” In my experience, you hear this when some nasty bug has worked its way into the community and people start getting whatever it is. I’m always on my guard when I hear about something like this, especially when it’s something really unpleasant like norovirus. Forewarned is forearmed, after all. # ⚓ Tom's Hardware ☛ Arm,_Apple's_PC_Market_Share_Shrinks_as x86_Rebounds:_Mercury_Research⠀⇛ Declines of Apple's Macs sales drive Arm's market share in desktops and laptops down. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ OpenMV_Promises_“Flyby”_Imaging_Of_Components For_Pick_And_Place_Project⠀⇛ [iforce2d] has an interesting video exploring whether the OpenMV H7 board is viable as a flyby camera for pick and place, able to quickly snap a shot of a moving part instead of requiring the part to be held still in front of the camera. The answer seems to be yes! # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Putting_3D_Printed_Screw_Threads_To_The_Test⠀⇛ One of the challenges with 3D printing is seeing how far designs can be pushed before they break. This includes aspects like flexible hinges and structural components, but also smaller details such as screw threads. Often metal inserts with threads are added to FDM 3D prints by melting them into the plastic, but might 3D printed threads be sufficient for many cases?  This is a question which [Adam Harig] sought to investigate in a recent video while working on parts that would connect to a rather expensive camera. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Solder_Two_Boards_At_Once_With_This_Dual_Reflow Plate⠀⇛ Homebrew reflow projects generally follow a pretty simple formula: find a thrift shop toaster oven or hot plate, add a microcontroller and a means to turn the heating element on and off, and close the loop with a thermistor. Add a little code and you’re melting solder paste. Sometimes, though, a ground-up design works better, like this scalable reflow plate with all the bells and whistles. # ⚓ Tom MacWright ☛ Roll⠀⇛ I developed an old roll of film and the photos are pretty decent! My Olympus_XA-2 is my default walking-around camera. I love it, but its age is showing and I’m envious of the crisp photos that people get out of later-era SLR film cameras. Thinking about getting a lightweight viewfinder for my monstrous Nikon F, or buying something like a Nikon FM2. There’s a paradox to this gear, though, and I don’t want to delude myself into thinking that I’d use a slightly different camera more when really the issue is that I’m not shooting many photos regardless. o § Health/Nutrition/Agriculture⠀➾ # ⚓ Science Alert ☛ Four-Week_Experiment_Reveals_an_Ingeniously Simple_Way_to_Boost_Your_Sleep_Quality⠀⇛ You may want to try this. # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Gonorrhea_Is_Becoming_Drug_Resistant. Scientists_Just_Found_a_Solution.⠀⇛ A new antibiotic, zoliflodacin, is as effective as the current standard of care. Its creation may hasten the arrival of other needed antibiotics. # ⚓ The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia_faces_looming_white_rice shortage_amid_uncertain_weather_and_expensive_padi_seeds⠀⇛ The shortage of padi seeds has resulted in skyrocketing prices. # ⚓ YLE ☛ Bird_flu_confirmation_prompts_cull_at_10_more_fur farms⠀⇛ The Finnish Food Authority has now detected avian influenza cases at a total of 42 fur farms. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Radioactive_Water_Was_Once_A_(Horrifying)_Health Fad⠀⇛ Take a little time to watch the history of Radithor, a presentation by [Adam Blumenberg] into a quack medicine that was exactly what it said on the label: distilled water containing around 2 micrograms of radium in each bottle (yes, that’s a lot.) It’s fascinatingly well-researched, and goes into the technology and societal environment surrounding such a product, which helped play a starring role in the eventual Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. You can watch the whole presentation in the video, embedded below the break. o § Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)⠀➾ # ⚓ Qt ☛ Qt_Creator_12_RC_released⠀⇛ We are happy to announce the release of Qt Creator 12 RC! o § Security⠀➾ # § Integrity/Availability/Authenticity⠀➾ # ⚓ The Straits Times ☛ China_Southern_Airlines_to_honour $1.80_flight_tickets_sold_during_glitch⠀⇛ There was a two-hour technical glitch on its mobile phone app and some ticket-booking platforms. # § Privacy/Surveillance⠀➾ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Prince_Harry_Can_Proceed_With_a Lawsuit_Against_Daily_Mail_Publisher⠀⇛ A judge rejected an attempt by the publisher to have Harry’s case thrown out, paving the way for the trial to move ahead. o § Defence/Aggression⠀➾ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ U.S._Seeks_to_Resume_Military_Dialogue with_Beijing⠀⇛ The Joint Chiefs chairman said in a letter to his Chinese counterpart that restoring communications was crucial to avoiding misunderstandings. # ⚓ RFA ☛ Beijing_tests_Manila’s_nerves_in_disputed_reef⠀⇛ Large number of Chinese vessels tried blocking a Philippine resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal. # ⚓ YLE ☛ Finnish_investigators_confirm_recovered_anchor belongs_to_Chinese_vessel⠀⇛ Police found a ship's anchor near the site where the Balticconnector gas pipeline was damaged last month. # ⚓ JURIST ☛ Maryland_to_pay_$235K_to_family_of_Black_teen after_fatal_police_encounter⠀⇛ Maryland’s Board of Public Works unanimously approved on Wednesday a settlement ending a lawsuit against the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the aftermath of a fatal police encounter that resulted in the death of Anton Black’s death five years ago. # ⚓ RFA ☛ Interview:_Euro-Asia_ties_needed_as_global_security challenges_grow⠀⇛ RFA spoke to KF-VUB Korea chair Ramon Pacheco Pardo about the growing needs for Europe-Asia security ties. # ⚓ Defence Web ☛ South_Africa_getting_30_000_more_police officers_to_bolster_fight_against_crime⠀⇛ Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced on Thursday that the government is working around the clock to capacitate the police force which will see the country having 30 000 more officers in the coming years as South Africa wages war against crime. # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Philippines_accuses_China_of ‘dangerous’_actions_in_South_China_Sea⠀⇛ The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard Friday of “dangerous harassment” of Filipino boats in the disputed South China Sea, including firing a water cannon and blocking vessels on a resupply mission. # ⚓ Chronicle Of Higher Education ☛ In_an_‘Extraordinarily Unusual’_Letter,_Israel’s_President_Urges_College_Leaders_to Fight_Antisemitism⠀⇛ Isaac Herzog has called on American college leaders to exercise “moral leadership” and to condemn Hamas “publicly and unequivocally.” # ⚓ Michael Geist ☛ Pablo_Rodriguez_Failed_For_Weeks_to_Say Anything_About_Funding_for_an_Anti-Semite_and_Then_Lied_About What_He_Knew._He_Should_Resign.⠀⇛ The government’s funding of Laith Marouf, a known anti-semite, sparked anger_and_condemnation last summer as many wondered how Canadian Heritage failed to conduct the necessary due diligence to weed him out as part of its anti-hate program. While government MPs such as Anthony Housefather urged_action, then-Diversity Minister Ahmed Hussein was slow to respond and then-Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez inexplicably remained silent. I posted repeatedly on his silence, leading his Parliamentary Secretary, MP Chris Bittle, to suggest_that_I_was_racist and a bully. Yet as we have witnessed in recent days, when it comes to antisemitism, silence is not an option. The threat is literally playing out in our streets and campuses and we need everyone - Jews and non-Jews alike - to speak_out_against_it and take action where necessary. # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_Yellen_to 'Intensify_Communication'_With_China's_He,_Warns_on_Russia Support⠀⇛ # § Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine⠀➾ # ⚓ Modern Diplomacy ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_Allies_in_the eternal_Cold_War,_or_the_intriguing_partnership_of_the Russian_Federation_and_the_DPRK⠀⇛ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_Mitch McConnell,_Standing_Apart_in_a_Changing_GOP,_Digs_in_on His_Decades-Long_Push_Against_Russia⠀⇛ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_A Teenager_Taken_From_Occupied_Mariupol_to_Russia_Will Return_to_Ukraine,_Officials_Say⠀⇛ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_North Korea_Condemns_Blinken's_Comments_on_Ties_With_Russia_- KCNA⠀⇛ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_Russia Says_Ukrainian_Drones_Downed_in_Moscow_Region, Elsewhere⠀⇛ # ⚓ US News And World Report ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_Russian Shelling_Kills_Three,_Damages_Gas,_Power_Lines_in Ukraine's_South⠀⇛ # ⚓ NL Times ☛ 2023-11-08_[Older]_Dutch_soldiers_in Bosnia_to_fight_Russian_influence;_First_deployment since_Srebrenica⠀⇛ o § Transparency/Investigative Reporting⠀➾ # ⚓ New York Times ☛ Man_vs._Musk:_A_Whistleblower_Creates Headaches_for_Tesla⠀⇛ An employee who was fired after expressing safety concerns leaked personnel records and sensitive data about driver-assistance software. o § Environment⠀➾ # § Energy/Transportation⠀➾ # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Exporting_US_Fracked_Gas_Is_Far_Worse_for the_Climate_Than_Coal,_Study_Finds⠀⇛ # ⚓ H2 View ☛ Japan_and_South_Korea_‘to_build_hydrogen and_ammonia_supply_chain’⠀⇛ Japan and South Korea are poised to announce closer collaboration in building a hydrogen and ammonia supply chain. # ⚓ teleSUR ☛ Kenya_Hosts_China-Africa_Investment_Summit, Green_Transition⠀⇛ Representatives of green start-ups from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda pitched to Chinese investors in hopes of securing business partnerships. # ⚓ Hackaday ☛ Wind_Tunnel_Uses_The_Last_Straw⠀⇛ If you watch the movies, there isn’t much to a wind tunnel. Just a fan and a tunnel, right? The truth is there’s a lot more to it than that, and [ejs13] shows you how you can make a small tunnel with some basic supplies. One of the requirements for a useful tunnel is to have laminar flow — that is, flow in uniform layers with little, if any, mixing. This tunnel achieves laminar flow using an array of soda straws to direct the flow. In fact, there are 150 straws in total. You can see a short clip of the wind tunnel in action below. # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Lawsuit_Against_Mountain_Valley_Pipeline Activists_Sets_an_Alarming_Precedent⠀⇛ # ⚓ Silicon Angle ☛ Justin_Sun’s_Poloniex_exchange_hit for_over_$100M_in_exploit⠀⇛ More than $100 million in digital assets were taken from a wallet belonging to the cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex in what security firms said was a massive hack earlier this morning. Millions of crypto assets were transferred from an account labeled “Poloniex 4,” as seen on the Etherescan blockchain explorer. # § Wildlife/Nature⠀➾ # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China’s_animal_lovers_fight illegal_cat_meat_trade⠀⇛ When Han Jiali’s beloved cat Dabai was taken from her Shanghai home last year, she embarked on a hunt for her pet that took her deep into the bowels of China’s underground feline meat trade. # ⚓ The Kent Stater ☛ Amazon_deforestation_falls_more than_20%_to_its_lowest_levels_in_5_years⠀⇛ o § Finance⠀➾ # ⚓ Moody's_turns_negative_on_US_credit_rating,_draws Washington_ire⠀⇛ o § AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics⠀➾ # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Kazakh-Chinese_Agreement_On_Visa-Free_Travel_Comes Into_Force⠀⇛ The Kazakh-Chinese agreement on visa-free travel, signed in May, took force on November 10. According to the agreement, citizens of both countries are exempt from visa requirements for tourism, medical treatment, and business trips. # ⚓ RFA ☛ China_dominates_in_overseas_ports:_report⠀⇛ Beijing has become a leading power in owning and operating commercial sea ports worldwide, says U.S.-based think tank. # ⚓ RFA ☛ APEC_2023:_All_eyes_on_Pooh-tin_and_Biden⠀⇛ Biden can't offer Pooh-tin the pomp and ceremony he'd demand for a state visit. APEC circumvents that. # ⚓ RFA ☛ Li_Keqiang's_death_fueling_distrust,_opposition toward_Pooh-tin_Jinping:_experts⠀⇛ His death was 'a farewell to the era of reform and opening up in China.' # ⚓ RFA ☛ Interview:_Opposition's_Operation_1027_in_Shan_State indicates_'low_point'_in_Myanmar-China_ties⠀⇛ The Myanmar junta has proven incapable of working with the Chinese to advance any of China's economic interests, says an expert on the conflict. # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Fighting_in_Myanmar_blocks_key_trade routes_with_China,_in_’embarrassing_affront’_to_military junta⠀⇛ A surprise offensive by Myanmar ethnic armed groups has blocked two strategically vital roads to the country’s biggest trading partner China, choking cross-border commerce and denying the cash-strapped junta taxes and foreign exchange. # ⚓ YLE ☛ Packages_sent_to_Finland_from_outside_the_EU_held_up "for_weeks"_due_to_new_security_rules⠀⇛ Newly-introduced EU security data regulations are causing delivery delays by Finland's Posti as more packages from outside the European Union get stuck in customs. # ⚓ YLE ☛ Finland's_Niinistö_heading_to_Poland_for_official visit⠀⇛ The presidents will discuss bilateral relations and regional security issues, among other topics. # § Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda⠀➾ # ⚓ Cloudbooklet ☛ New_Jersey_High_school_students victimized_by_Hey_Hi_(AI)_Generated_Nude_Photos⠀⇛ AI generated nude photos of students at Westfield High School in New Jersey cause shock and outrage. The article examines the details, impact, response, and implications of this deepfake scandal. o § Censorship/Free Speech⠀➾ # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Blur_‘did_not_apply_for_a_visa,’ despite_bassist’s_claim_that_UK_band_‘not_allowed_back_in Hong_Kong’⠀⇛ British rock band Blur were not refused a visa to perform in Hong Kong and did not apply for one, a spokesperson for the band has told HKFP, after their bassist claimed that the band was “not allowed back” into the city. o § Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press⠀➾ # ⚓ JURIST ☛ HRW:_Burkina_Faso_conscription_plan_to_muzzle dissent_from_journalists_and_organizations⠀⇛ Human Rights Watch stated on Wednesday that Burkina Faso’s junta is intensifying its assault on dissent by notifying 12 journalists, civil society activists and opposition party members that they were required to participate in government security operations across the country. # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Justice_chief_says_‘100%_confident’ in_handling_Jimmy_Lai_case_in_Hong_Kong_amid_suggestions_of mainland_transfer⠀⇛ Justice Secretary Paul Lam has said he is “100 per cent confident” that Hong Kong can handle the national security case against media tycoon Jimmy Lai, following suggestions that such cases could be transferred to China in response to proposed US sanctions. # ⚓ CPJ ☛ 2023-11-10_[Older]_‘Our_kids_miss_their_mom’:_Husband of_journalist_Alsu_Kurmasheva_speaks_out_about_her_detention in_Russia⠀⇛ # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ ‘Fact-twisting’:_Hong_Kong_gov’t slams_call_by_international_Catholic_leaders_for_Jimmy_Lai’s release⠀⇛ Calls by a group of foreign Catholic leaders for the immediate release of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who will face a national security trial next month, were “misleading and slanderous,” the Hong Kong government has said. o § Civil Rights/Policing⠀➾ # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ New_Book_Examines_How_Pirates_Tried_to_Sabotage the_Growth_of_the_Slave_Trade⠀⇛ # ⚓ RFERL ☛ Under_Intense_Pressure,_Iranian_Family_Of_Slain Child_Moves_Up_Memorial⠀⇛ The family of Kian Pirfalak, a 9-year-old boy killed in last year's protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody, commemorated the first anniversary of his death a week earlier than planned after coming under intense pressure from security forces. # ⚓ JURIST ☛ Apple_to_pay_$25M_settlement_over_employment discrimination_claims⠀⇛ The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that Fashion Company Apple will pay $25 million to settle claims that the tech giant participated in discriminatory hiring and recruitment practices on the basis of citizenship. # ⚓ Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Guest_post_by_Hampole,_Truffa_& Wong:_Breaking_the_Glass_Ceiling:_The_Power_of_Female_Peer Networks⠀⇛ The glass ceiling — the barrier obstructing females and minorities from obtaining upper-level positions— persists. Even with decades of advancements in labor force participation and university enrollment, companies still underrepresent women in top corporate leadership roles. For instance, women constitute 40% of the workforce in the S&P 1500 companies, yet they only occupy 6% of CEO positions. The gender gap expands at every level of the corporate hierarchy. # ⚓ TruthOut ☛ Republicans_Claim_to_Support_Child_Care Policies,_But_Few_Speak_Up⠀⇛ # ⚓ JURIST ☛ Former_Malaysia_minister_convicted_on_corruption charges_faces_7_years_in_prison_and_whipping⠀⇛ An Indonesian court sentenced former Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to seven years in prison and two lashes of the whip after being found guilty of abetting in criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds and money laundering, according to a Thursday article from state news agency Bernama. # ⚓ Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Chinese_former_bank_chief_given_life in_prison_for_bribery⠀⇛ China on Friday sentenced the former president of one of its biggest state-owned banks to life in prison for bribery, state media reported, as a campaign against corruption sweeps through the country’s financial sector. # ⚓ Latvia ☛ Latvia_pushes_its_AMLA_HQ_bid_in_Brussels⠀⇛ Thursday, November 9 saw an event held in Brussels, Belgium to present Latvia as the possible future seat of the new European Union (EU) agency, the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA). # ⚓ Latvia ☛ Banking_association_denies_Reirs'_remarks_over 'bank_cartel'⠀⇛ The Finance Latvia Association (FLA) categorically rejects the claims made by the former Finance Minister Jānis Reirs that banking activity in Latvia resembles a cartel, the association said in a statement on November 10. # ⚓ DaemonFC (Ryan Farmer) ☛ UAW_Targets_Toyota_and_Tesla_for Unionization._|_BaronHK’s_Rants⠀⇛ UAW Targets Toyota and Tesla for Unionization. UAW says they want to unionize Toyota and Tesla. Elon Musk is infamously anti-labor. His cars are almost the shoddiest shit that you can find on the road today. [...] The UAW should have gone after Toyota full force years ago but it’s good that they realize that this may be their last opportunity for a while. Personally, I think Joe Biden should float the idea of some tariffs against Japanese car companies if Toyota tries to resist unionization. The Japanese government has been incredibly uncooperative with American companies that try to sell anything in Japan even though there are officially no tariffs. Since the US doesn’t export much to Japan and GM only sells about 700 new cars in the entire country per year anyway, there’s not much the Japanese could do in response. # ⚓ LRT ☛ ‘This_puts_us_in_one_category_with_Hungary’_–_is Lithuania_facing_sanctions_for_defying_ECHR_ruling?⠀⇛ After the parliament voted down amendments to a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ information law, Lithuania may be facing EU sanctions in addition to reputational damage, argues the justice minister. Not everyone agrees. # The Latvian parliament Saeima on Thursday adopted amendments to eight laws legislating same-sex partnership, the country’s public broadcaster LSM has reported. * § Monopolies⠀➾ o § Patents⠀➾ # ⚓ Kluwer Patent Blog ☛ SUEPO_report_2022:_EPO_management keeps_ignoring_staff_in_major_reforms⠀⇛ The political environment at the EPO remains bumpy. Though some progress is made in relatively minor adjustments of the working conditions, the SUEPO trade union and staff committees remain largely ignored in major reforms. SUEPO writes this in its Annual Report 2022, which was published this week: [...] # ⚓ Unified Patents ☛ Two_Chinese_ETRI_video_codec_patents_held invalid⠀⇛ The Beijing Intellectual Property Court found all claims of two Chinese patents, CN103384333B and CN104219523B, invalid after the patent monopoly owner, Electronics_and_Telecommunications_Research Institute_(ETRI), filed an appeal. # ⚓ JUVE ☛ Adtran_and_Arnold_Ruess_overturn_first_instance ruling_in_Orckit_dispute⠀⇛ US telecommunication company Adtran and Israeli company Orckit IP have battled for years over two network technology patents. Orckit claims that Adtran’s products infringe its IP rights EP 1 974 485, covering VPLS failure protection in ring networks, as well as EP 3 068 077, which covers forwarding multicast traffic over link aggregation ports. o § Copyrights⠀➾ # ⚓ Digital Music News ☛ Mystery_Behind_Led_Zeppelin_IV_Album Cover_Revealed,_50_Years_On⠀⇛ The mystery of the Led Zeppelin IV album cover has been solved over 50 years on after a researcher in the UK unearthed the original photo. The image features a man with a bundle of sticks on his back, hunched over in a field. * § Gemini* and Gopher⠀➾ o § Personal/Opinions⠀➾ # ⚓ Hard_Times⠀⇛ I guess right now I am having a difficult time with your death. Just before you died two years ago, I was about to go on the same trip as every year, but I had no idea where you were or how you were doing. I hadn't know for several months. You had stopped communicating with me and everyone. o § Politics and World Events⠀➾ # ⚓ Thankful,_Given_Today⠀⇛ Given Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, and the terror attacks by Hamas and subsequent response by Israel this year, I'm once again thinking how blessed I am to have never been touched by war. The closest it's been in my life is via my brother-in- law, a former infantry sergeant who served in Afghanistan. Other than that, it's taken the form of family stories from my father, because it was my grandfather's generation who fought Nazi Germany. My grandfather didn't actually fight himself, though he was in the army - he was a tank mechanic on the south coast of England, and fixed up the ones that made it back. But I have long-gone great uncles who experienced the hell of war: one who pulled his brother's body out of the water after a U-boat attack, and another who was tank crew, and fought Rommel's forces across Africa. His reward, as an experienced tanker, was to be part of the assault force on D-Day. o § Technology and Free Software⠀➾ # ⚓ Working_on_getting_Vivaldi_Browser_onto_Flathub…⠀⇛ I am currently working on getting Vivaldi Browser onto Flathub, which involves creating the various files to convert our .deb package to flatpak format. # ⚓ What_a_week⠀⇛ This wasn't such a wonderful week. It started off with hot and humid weather from the 3 day weekend. On Monday it was 26c / 78f and I had to dig out my USB fans and summer clothes again. Then by nightfall the temperature had dropped and it was cold again, making it difficult to sleep that night. Then I messed up this Ubuntu install by doing something stupid and I had to recover it. The same day my Gear S2 popped up two low battery warnings, even after having been fully charged and went dead during the night. Finally, work was even more idiotic than usual. # ⚓ A_hot_3_day_weekend⠀⇛ I went to a number of BOOK OFFs looking for PS2 games, but it's frustrating to find that not all locations have them; I walked over 30 minutes to one out in the middle of nowhere just to find that out. I also dropped by Super Potato this weekend, but I was in and out rather quickly. The prices are quite high I noticed, and it's often crowded. With very narrow aisles it's not easy getting around the tourists talking to each other about what game(s) they remember from childhood and/or others taking photos and video. # § Internet/Gemini⠀➾ # ⚓ Limited_Connection_III_-_Back_To_Human_Ralm⠀⇛ The longer, with the help of various new systems, tricks and challenges and, above all, heightened awareness, I try to control my own Internet usage habits, the more I get an idea of how unaware I was and still am of the vast amount of time I spend on the Internet. Despite the fact that I belong to a generation that grew up without the Internet and was introduced to it at the threshold of entering adulthood, I have become accustomed to being online and constantly immersed in the netosphere to such an extent that on a daily basis, without making an intellectual effort or moving my imagination, I don't realize how difficult it is for me to function without it and how hard it is for me to overcome the urge to connect. To leap with my consciousness into the digital dimension. Frequently downloading small bundles of information (Don't know a term? Quick, look it up immediately!). Not to mention soaking in the rabbit holes of forgetfulness that I've been aware of for quite some time now. # ⚓ Limited_Connection_IV_-_Old_Modem_Simulation⠀⇛ In this post I describe the rules of a game (challenge?) I've been testing for myself lately for my own use. Imagine going back to a time when you could only connect to the Internet through a modem connected to the telephone network, the cost of a connection was charged every minute, so we were aware of every minute we spent on the Internet. As you will see, I don't fully go back to the realities of the times, I do, however, go back enough that it strongly changes my life. # ⚓ "Mind_Management"_book_notes⠀⇛ These are my personal takeaways after reading "Mind Management" by David Kadavy. Note that the book contains much more knowledge wisdom and that these notes only contain points I personally found worth writing down. This is mainly for my own use, but you might find it helpful too. =============================================================================== * Gemini_(Primer) links can be opened using Gemini_software. It's like the World Wide Web but a lot lighter. ╘══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛ ¶ Lines in total: 2496 ➮ Generation completed at 02:49, i.e. 1 seconds to (re)generate ⟲