Links 14/10/2024: One Year Since Activision Blizzard Demolition 'Officially' Began and Amazon Corporate Layoffs Accelerate
Contents
-
Leftovers
-
Science
-
Hackaday ☛ Levitating Magnet In A Spherical Copper Cage
Lenz’s Law is one of those physics tricks that look like magic if you don’t understand what’s happening. [Seth Robinson] was inspired by the way eddy currents cause a cylindrical neodymium magnet to levitate inside a rotating copper tube, so he cast a spherical copper cage to levitate a magnetic sphere.
-
-
Hardware
-
Hackaday ☛ Building An Automotive Load Dump Tester
For those who have not dealt with the automotive side of electronics before, it comes as somewhat of a shock when you find out just how much extra you have to think about and how tough the testing and acceptance standards are. One particular test requirement is known as the “load dump” test. [Tim Williams] needed to build a device (first article of three) to apply such test conditions and wanted to do it as an exercise using scrap and spares. Following is a proper demonstration of follow-through from an analytical look at the testing specs to some interesting hand construction.
-
-
Health/Nutrition/Agriculture
-
France24 ☛ Harris challenges Trump by issuing medical report showing she is in ‘excellent health’
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Saturday issued a medical report showing she is in “excellent health” and fit to serve as the country’s leader. The move is seen as a challenge to Donald Trump, whom Harris has accused of lacking transparency for not releasing his own medical records. After Joe Biden dropped out of the race for the White House in July, Trump became the oldest presidential nominee from a major political party in US history.
-
Science Alert ☛ Can't Hear People When It's Noisy? A Study Links This to Dementia Risk
This might be hard for some to hear.
-
Science Alert ☛ Study: Parents Who Use Humor May Have Better Relationships With Kids
No joke.
-
Science Alert ☛ Isometric Exercise: Why This Workout Regime Is So Good For You
Exercise doesn't have to be vigorous.
-
Science Alert ☛ Can a Supplement Really Help Control Your Pesky Eye Floaters?
A look at the science.
-
TwinCities Pioneer Press ☛ Overdose deaths in Minnesota dipped last year, according to state health department
Overall drug overdose deaths were down 8 percent in 2023.
-
-
Proprietary/Artificial Intelligence (AI)
-
EuroGamer ☛ It's been 12 months since Microsoft purchased Activision Blizzard, so what's changed? [Ed: So many layoffs, Microsoft lied to FTC]
Most notably, perhaps, we have unfortunately seen a devastating number of layoffs across Microsoft, including its gaming divisions, and Activision Blizzard studios. In January of this year, the company announced it was laying off 1900 people across its video game teams, including Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax and Xbox, equating to approximately eight percent of its gaming workforce. [...]
In May, yet more layoffs were announced at Microsoft, though this time in its Bethesda studios. Redfall and Dishonored developer Arkane Austin was closed, also marking the end of updates for the studio's online co-op vampire shooter. Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within developer Tango Gameworks was also closed at this time, as was Mighty Doom studio Alpha Dog Games. Microsoft faced intense criticism for its decision to shutter these studios, with Arkane Lyon boss Dinga Bakaba calling it a "a fucking gut stab".
-
Amazon Corporate Layoffs: Is it a Sign of Economic Trouble? [Ed: GAFAM = HUNDREDS of BILLION of dollars in DEBT]
Amazon recently revealed that it would lay off about 14,000 workers, primarily in its corporate division. This choice is a component of a larger restructuring initiative that aims to lower expenses, increase efficiency, and match the company's workforce with its strategic ambitions. To increase the proportion of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by the end of Q1 2025, Amazon CEO Andy Jassey declared that the company would be removing roughly 14,000 manager jobs. According to a business executive, Jassy's strategy will impact considerably fewer managers than some had anticipated. The Information reported that the layoffs would only affect its corporate staff.
-
-
Security
-
Privacy/Surveillance
-
Medevel ☛ Stay Private and Secure with Silence, The Secure SMS & MMS App for Android [Ed: Android itself is not safe though]
Silence is a free, open-source app that provides secure SMS and MMS messaging for Android users.
Available on F-Droid, Silence offers a simple yet effective way to protect your messages from prying eyes with end-to-end encryption, even when you're offline.
-
JURIST ☛ US sues Virginia election board for removing voters from registration list
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday that it filed a lawsuit against the Virginia Board of Elections (VBE) and the state commissioner of elections, claiming a state program allegedly violated federal voter registration requirements. The lawsuit alleges the program violated the “quiet period” provision of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
-
-
-
Defence/Aggression
-
France24 ☛ Hezbollah claims drone attack near Haifa which injures at least 60 Israelis
An Israeli volunteer rescue service on Sunday said more than 60 people were wounded south of Haifa, where Hezbollah earlier claimed a drone strike that targeted a military base. Hezbollah said it launched “a squadron of attack drones” at a military training camp in Binyamina, south of Haifa, in response to Israeli air strikes on Lebanon.
-
New York Times ☛ Israeli Jets Pummel Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon
The strike, which wounded dozens, showed that the militant group remain a force.
-
BIA Net ☛ Turkey condemns UNIFIL strikes, urges stance against Israel, supporters
The Foreign Ministry accused Israel of trying to expand the conflict across the region as five UN peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days in Israeli strikes.
-
RFERL ☛ Chinese Prime Minister Arrives In Islamabad As Pakistan Braces For SCO Summit
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on October 13 as Pakistan prepares to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which has been overshadowed by recent political unrest ahead of the event.
-
France24 ☛ Armed man arrested near Trump's weekend rally in southern California
A Nevada man, 49, was arrested with a shotgun, loaded handgun, and ammunition at a security checkpoint outside Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella, California. Authorities stopped his black SUV, and he was charged with possessing a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine. He was released on $5,000 bail.
-
The Strategist ☛ Australia and the struggle for mastery in Eurasia
Australians sees themselves as a peace-loving people. Far from distant troubles, Australia is not surrounded by enemies.
-
The Straits Times ☛ North Korea says border units on standby to shoot amid drones dispute
Its defence ministry’s spokesperson said Pyongyang sees a high likelihood of more drones flying over the capital.
-
The Straits Times ☛ North Korea says border units ready to fire amid dispute over drones being flown into Pyongyang
Its defence ministry’s spokesperson said Pyongyang sees a high likelihood of more drones flying over the capital.
-
JURIST ☛ Flooding and war creates dire human rights situation in Myanmar
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported Thursday that over 570,000 people are likely displaced in Myanmar’s Rakhine State due to ongoing conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Arakan Army, with over 3 million people displaced by conflict and flooding across the country.
-
France24 ☛ Taiwan on ‘alert’ after spotting Chinese aircraft carrier sailing to its south
Taiwan’s military is on “alert” after a Chinese aircraft carrier was spotted sailing to its south on Sunday. Last week, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te held a National Day speech in which he vowed to resist Chinese annexation. Beijing responded by saying that Lai’s “provocations” would result in “disaster” for Taiwan.
-
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong Policy Address 2024: What to look out for in this year’s speech
Hong Kong’s leader John Lee will deliver the third Policy Address of his term on Wednesday, with the focus set to shift from national security to reviving the economy and improving health services and housing – including a clampdown on the city’s notorious subdivided flats.
-
Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine
-
France24 ☛ Zelensky says North Korea has sent troops to support Russian military
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said there was "an increasing alliance" between Russia and regimes like North Korea and that both weapons and troops had been sent by Pyongyang to bolster Russia's army. Zelensky toured European capitals in the past week to ask for increased military aid as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds on through its third year.
-
RFERL ☛ Ukraine Alleges New Killings Of POWs By Russian Forces As Air Strikes Continue
Ukrainian officials accused Russian forces of executing nine captured troops in the Kursk border region, denouncing Moscow for violating "all the rules and customs of war," while Kyiv said at least two people were killed and 22 others injured in Russian attacks in Ukraine over the past 24 hours.
-
France24 ☛ UK Foreign Secretary to join EU ministers for talks on Mideast and Ukraine
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy will attend the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, joining EU counterparts for the first time in two years. Talks will focus on the Middle East and Ukraine, following an invitation from Josep Borrell. This move follows PM Keir Starmer’s pledge to reset relations after Brexit during a recent Brussels visit.
-
New York Times ☛ Jokes and Offbeat Auctions for the Troops: Standup Comedy Sweeps Ukraine
Even as the conflict with Russia grinds on, a new generation of comics in Ukraine is trying to make people laugh — and raise money for the war effort.
-
New York Times ☛ Russian Strikes on Ukrainian Ports Target Civilian Shipping
With the strikes in the Odesa region, Russia appears to be trying again to prevent Ukraine from exporting grain, harming its economy and pushing up world prices.
-
LRT ☛ Sanctions list nightmare: Lithuanian woman constantly mistaken for someone else
A Lithuanian woman is constantly confused with her namesake from Belarus who is on an international sanctions list. As a result, she has been having trouble making bank transfers. A consumer rights advocate says the situation is not normal.
-
NYPost ☛ We need leaders who can truly stand up to Vladimir Putin — and Democrats aren’t cutting it [Ed: The tabloid of Rupert Murdoch, which aggressively pushes Trump, does not mention that Trump and Putin are buddies, who even talk to each other on the phone after the invasion of Ukraine]
With the Dems’ most left-wing presidential candidate ever, intense political fallout is scaring the buttered popcorn out of some.
-
-
-
Environment
-
Energy/Transportation
-
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong residents make almost 1 million outbound trips during Chung Yeung long weekend
Hong Kong residents logged almost 1 million outbound trips during the first two days of the three-day long weekend for Chung Yeung Festival, with most travellers heading to mainland China.
-
-
Wildlife/Nature
-
Science Alert ☛ Planets That May Host Life Could Be Facing a Devastating Threat
There's more to life than water.
-
The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia's eviction of sea nomads casts light on precarious lives
Patches of palm thatch entwined with a few forlorn stilts sticking out of the emerald waters in a Malaysian marine park off the island of Borneo are the only traces remaining of the homes of hundreds of sea nomads.
-
-
-
Finance
-
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Analysts welcome China’s fiscal stimulus but warn more detail needed on new measures
By Peter Catterall and Mary Yang Analysts gave a cautious welcome to China’s announcement Saturday of fresh fiscal stimulus to revive its ailing economy but warned that more details — and specific headline figures — were needed before its effect could be fully assessed.
-
-
AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics
-
Craig Murray ☛ Alex Salmond. Always My Hero.
Before Alex Salmond, Scottish Independence was an impossible dream, a romantic aspiration, outside the realm of practical politics. After Alex Salmond, it is the dominant question in Scottish politics and by far the biggest threat to the UK state.
-
Hong Kong Free Press ☛ New Macau leader Sam Hou-fai vows support for local business after winning one-man race for city’s top office
Macau’s next leader Sam Hou-fai said on Sunday his administration would support small local businesses after winning a one-man race for the city’s top office. Previously the city’s top judge, Sam, 62, is set to be sworn in when the former Portuguese colony celebrates the 25th anniversary of its handover to China later this year.
-
New York Times ☛ Ladakh’s Local Hero Wants India to Pay Attention to His People
The activist Sonam Wangchuk is leading protests to demand more autonomy for India’s remote Ladakh region, which shares borders with China and Pakistan.
-
-
Civil Rights/Policing
-
Pro Publica ☛ Why Are Hundreds of Criminal Cases Being Dismissed in Anchorage?
On May 1, a man in Anchorage, Alaska, called 911 to say he had “beat” his wife, according to a court document supporting an assault charge against him. When police stepped through the door of Vernon Booth’s apartment, they found the victim’s face bloody and her eye nearly swollen shut, the prosecution said.
You’re late, the charging document says he told officers. “She could have been dead by now.”
-
-
Patents
-
Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Federal Circuit Revives Patent Suit Against Aetna Over Health Savings Cards
by Dennis Crouch
In AlexSam v. Aetna, the Federal Circuit recently revived the patentee's infringement lawsuit against health insurance giant Aetna over its Visa and Mastercard-branded health savings account (HSA) debit cards. AlexSam, Inc. v. Aetna, Inc., No. 22-2036 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 8, 2024). The district court has dismissed the case on 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim of infringement.
-
Monopolies/Monopsonies
-