Leftovers

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Quakes on The Moon Are Far More Widespread Than We Realized

    It's happening all over.

  • Science Alert ☛ New Details Revealed on NASA's First Medical Evacuation

    "Reminds us just how human we are."

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘I thought I was safe’: What’s behind Malaysia’s rising TB cases

    Transmission of tuberculosis typically requires prolonged, close exposure to an infectious individual.

  • WhichUK ☛ How to protect your bone health as you age

    Research shows that impact exercises and lifting weights can help to keep bones strong and even build them up

  • Futurism ☛ The Average American Would Pay $49 Per Month to Drink Recycled Toilet Water, Study Finds

    "I do think it is a bipartisan issue."

  • New York Times ☛ Bird Flu Strikes California Elephant Seals for the First Time

    Thirty seals, primarily weaned pups, have died since late last week, scientists said.

  • Science Alert ☛ Aloe Vera Compound May Help Fight Alzheimer's Disease, Simulations Suggest

    This is promising.

  • Science Alert ☛ These 5 Common Medicines Can Carry Hidden Risks, Expert Warns

    Availability can create a false sense of security.

  • Science Alert ☛ Running Ultra-Marathons May Harm Your Blood Cells, Study Warns

    Pushing to the limit.

  • Science Alert ☛ Ancient Killer Is Rapidly Gaining Resistance to Antibiotics, Scientists Warn

    This is a global problem.

  • New York Times ☛ Casey Means, Surgeon General Nominee, Sidesteps Questions on Vaccines at Senate Hearing

    Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, author and supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said that “anti-vaccine rhetoric has never been part” of her message.

  • New York Times ☛ Why South Korea’s Dubai Chewy Cookie Craze Rose and Fell So Fast

    The brief life span of the Dubai chewy cookie reflects the country’s fast-moving food trends, where hype often matters more than taste.

  • Science Alert ☛ Forever Chemicals Linked to Faster Aging in Middle-Aged Men, Study Finds

    Are they speeding up the biological clock?

• Proprietary

  • Futurism ☛ Google Apologizes for Sending the Worst Push Notification You Can Possibly Imagine

    How was this allowed to happen?

  • Paul Thurrott ☛ Some Thoughts About Alternative (Computing) Lifestyles ⭐ [Ed: Microsofter perpetuating the idea installing GNU/Linux is super-hard]

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • The Straits Times ☛ In South Korea, what you ask Hey Hi (AI) could land you in court

      AI’s conversational structure can reveal a user’s internal reasoning and intentions.

    • Silicon Angle ☛ C3 Hey Hi (AI) shares plunge as earnings miss, shrinking sales and weak outlook rattle investors

      Shares in C3.ai Inc. cratered more than 20% in late trading today after the artificial intelligence software maker fell well short of expectations in its fiscal 2026 third quarter.

    • Futurism ☛ Meta’s Head of Hey Hi (AI) Safety Just Made a Mistake That May Cause You a Certain Amount of Alarm

      "Rookie mistake."

    • Futurism ☛ If Hey Hi (AI) Causes an Office Job Wipeout, It’ll Cause Huge Problems for Blue Collar Work Too

      Touching: we'll all get wiped out together.

    • Scoop News Group ☛ Chinese group’s Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot use reveals worldwide harassment campaign against critics

      OpenAI said a Chinese law enforcement agency uploaded reports to Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot that details a worldwide digital operation to track and silence regime critics at home and abroad. 

    • The Register UK ☛ Bcachefs creator insists his custom LLM is female and 'fully conscious'

      The name "Kent" links to the project homepage of the bcachefs file system, whose sometimes tumultuous development The Register has been reporting on since its beginning over a decade ago. Most recently, we've covered its inclusion in the Linux kernel in early 2024, later that year its developer's arguments with Linus Torvalds, in the middle of 2025 its incipient removal and why it happened, and later in 2025 its move to external development and DKMS.

      It's been a bumpy ride, and it may be about to get more so. The new blog says that it is generated by an LLM, and Overstreet has posted to explain and defend it in a remarkable Reddit thread.

  • Windows TCO / Windows Bot Nets

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Microsoft clarifies backdoored Windows 11 printer driver policy — support for legacy printers is not ending

      Microsoft confirmed today that backdoored Windows 11 is not ending support for legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers despite previous reports

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • ACLU ☛ License Plate Readings Shouldn’t Be Public Data

      We don’t think that law enforcement should be using license plate readers to retain information on where people are going and when, unless their vehicle is on a legitimate “hit list” of wanted vehicles. Nonetheless, police in many communities around the nation are using this surveillance technology as a mass surveillance system storing information about everybody’s movements. That has raised an important issue: are these records about who is driving where, and at what time, public records that journalists and other members of the public ought to be able to obtain through an open-records request?

    • JURIST ☛ US court denies illegal search challenge in child pornography conviction

      The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a man convicted of possessing child pornography did not have his constitutional rights violated when Surveillance Giant Google scanned his account for harmful material.

    • Privacy International ☛ What does Prosus's buyout mean for JustEat drivers?

    • New York Times ☛ Lawmakers Ask Tech Companies What User Data They Provided to D.H.S.

      The requests followed Times reporting that the Department of Homeland Security had sent Meta and other companies subpoenas for information on accounts that track or comment on ICE.

• Defence/Aggression

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s State of the Union Was a Win for Democrats

    Ezra Klein and Aaron Retica react to Convicted Felon’s 2026 State of the Union speech.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Sri Lanka arrests ex-intelligence chief over 2019 Easter bombings

    COLOMBO, Feb 25 - Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department arrested on Wednesday the country's former intelligence chief in connection with the Easter bombings of 2019 that killed 279 people.

  • France24 ☛ Rubio defends Maduro capture as Caribbean leaders raise concerns

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Caribbean leaders on Wednesday that the removal of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro has improved regional stability, despite objections over its legality. Speaking at a summit in St Kitts and Nevis, he urged closer cooperation while tensions persist over Cuba, migration and security.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ DJI sues the FCC over its prohibition on importing new foreign-made drones into the US — Chinese firm contests its placement on the regulator's 'covered list'

    Following the FCC's decision last year to put DJI on its "Covered List' of blacklisted companies, the drone firm has just sued the agency. It argues that the import ban undermines the principles of a fair market, while denying Americans access to the latest technology.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Chinese drone maker DJI sues to challenge US import ban

    Chinese firm DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, has sued the US Federal Communications Commission for adding it to a blacklist which restricts sales in the United States, the company said Wednesday.

  • ADF ☛ Mass Graves in Sudan Reveal ‘War Against Civilians’

    As Sudan’s civil war continues, two mass graves have been discovered around Khartoum, the national capital. Locals say the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, transferred bodies to the graves from makeshift detention centers.

  • Site36 ☛ Former German concentration camp Buchenwald: Row over keffiyehs resurfaces as memorial criticises instrumentalisation

    A pro-Palestinian alliance wants to be permitted to wear keffiyehs at the former concentration camp Buchenwald. The memorial says it is appalled. However, its director has corrected a controversial guidance document that became public last year. Wearing a keffiyeh – known as a “Palestinian scarf” – is not prohibited at the former concentration camp Buchenwald.

  • France24 ☛ World Central Kitchen calls international community not to forget Kyiv and Gaza

    Today in Spotlight, we speak with celebrity Chef José Andrés. The founder of World Food Kitchen talks of his Longer Tables Fund's matching donations to support critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine, Gaza where his charity provides one million hot meals a day... and more.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim says could ‘get along’ with US but shuns South Korea

    He excluded any discussion with South Korea.

  • France24 ☛ Kim signals openness to US ties while calling South Korea ‘most hostile’

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Thursday that Pyongyang could improve relations with Washington if its nuclear status is respected, while hardening his stance on Seoul by labelling it the country’s “most hostile” enemy. His remarks come amid speculation over a possible meeting with US President The Insurrectionist.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea leader Kim’s daughter appears at military parade, state media footage shows

    She has made increasingly prominent appearances over the past three years.

  • CS Monitor ☛ Testing a different style of diplomacy

    Two U.S. envoys are leading negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war and prevent a U.S.-Iran conflict. Their “outsider” skills and close ties to President The Insurrectionist may offer an unorthodox path to bringing peace closer.

  • RFERL ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Vows In Address To 'Never Allow' Iran To Have Nuclear Weapons.

    US President The Insurrectionist used the longest State of the Union address in US history to repeat the threat of military action against Iran if diplomacy fails -- and pledged to keep negotiating to end the war in Ukraine.

  • New York Times ☛ For Convicted Felon, Military Strike in Iran Could Serve Symbolic Purpose

    Some officials in the Convicted Felon administration hope an attack would force Iran to give up its nuclear enrichment program. Others have doubts.

  • CS Monitor ☛ Why would Convicted Felon strike Iran? How lack of clarity imperils a diplomatic deal.

    President The Insurrectionist’s brief mention of Iran in his State of the Union address was still short of a complete argument for how and why striking Iran, which would risk a wider Middle East conflict, would further U.S. interests.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Myanmar junta air strike kills at least 17: Local groups

    Myanmar has been consumed by civil war since the junta snatched power in a 2021 coup.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Pakistan wary of militant attacks after Afghanistan air strikes

    Pakistan has boosted security and arrested dozens of suspects as it fears rising wave of militant attacks following its air strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan's Junior Interior Minister said on Wednesday.

  • France24 ☛ DR Congo govt forces launch attacks on multiple fronts against AFC/M23 troops

    Kinshasa's forces launched attacks on several fronts against AFC/M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Wednesday, with drones striking the armed group near a strategic mining site, local and security sources told AFP on Wednesday.

  • ADF ☛ Nigeria Grapples With Terrorist Intelligence-Gathering

    One of the challenges in Nigeria’s war on terrorism has been the blurry lines between combatants and civilians. Militant groups use human assets and combine local knowledge with a growing use of surveillance technology.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • ADF ☛ Russia Extracts CAR Gold to Fund War in Ukraine

      As Russia struggles with the immense cost of its war in Ukraine, which is entering its fifth year, it has turned to selling gold bullion.

    • New York Times ☛ Ukraine Wants to Join the E.U. to Secure Peace. Here’s What to Know.

      Negotiators agree that joining the bloc is critical to Kyiv’s future. But obstacles abound, and compromises might forever change how the union works.

    • New York Times ☛ Thanks, Ukrainians Say, but Please Stop Calling Us Resilient

      Ukraine must project strength to secure continued Western support. But its people want the world to know they are not superhuman.

    • The Straits Times ☛ ‘Latent threat’: Russia-South Korea rift deepens as Seoul mulls over support for Ukraine

      Seoul is considering joining a NATO initiative to help finance weapons purchases for Ukraine.

    • RFERL ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man, Zelenskyy Speak By Phone Ahead Of Geneva Talks As Pressure Mounts For Tougher Line On Russia

      US President The Insurrectionist and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone on February 25, a high-stakes conversation confirmed by both the White House and Kyiv as diplomatic efforts intensify ahead of renewed negotiations in Geneva.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania raises €4 million for Ukraine during RADAROM! fundraiser

      As the war in Ukraine marked another year on February 24, Lithuania concluded its fourth annual RADAROM! solidarity campaign Tuesday evening with a daylong telemarathon titled RADAROM! The Fight Is Not Over, raising 4 million euros for the war-torn country before midnight.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania to send 30 RBS missiles to Ukraine – defence minister in Kyiv

      Lithuania is sending 30 RBS missiles to Ukraine to help bolster its air defences, said Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas Tuesday during a visit to Kyiv.

    • Security Week ☛ Ex-US Defense Contractor Executive Jailed for Selling Exploits to Russia

      Peter Williams was sentenced to 87 months in prison for selling cyber exploits to a Russian broker.

    • Defence Web ☛ South Africans recruited for Russo/Ukrainian conflict coming home

      South Africans “lured into battle lines” in the now four-year-old Russo/Ukraine conflict are either back or on their way home, [...]

    • Stanford University ☛ “We will not give up”: Ukrainian leaders mark four years of resistance against Russian invasion

      Addressing the Bechtel Conference Center, leaders rejected the prospect of territorial concessions, saying that Ukrainians “will not give up” on their country.

    • Latvia ☛ WATCH AGAIN: 'Thoughts and deeds for Ukraine' concert in Rīga

      Russian attacks in many parts of Ukraine have left people without heating, electricity, and light. We can help Ukraine by donating and by warming the hearts of these brave people.

    • Latvia ☛ LSM campaign for Ukraine raises 745,000 euros

      The campaign run by Latvian Public Media (LSM) to raise funds for Ukraine has closed with nearly three quarters of a million euros raised.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian cabinet approves updated national security strategy

      Lithuania’s cabinet on Wednesday approved an updated National Security Strategy, citing a deteriorating geopolitical environment and growing hybrid threats.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • JURIST ☛ UN calls for ocean governance to abide by international law

      UN experts stated on Tuesday that new regulations concerning seabed governance, including seabed mining, must be grounded in international human rights and environmental laws, ahead of the 31st session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia bets on durian trails, wildlife to extend tourism boom

      Malaysia hopes that food pilgrimages, farm stays and wildlife treks will lure visitors.

  • Overpopulation

    • New York Times ☛ A.I. Dating Apps Complicate China’s Efforts to Boost Birthrate

      As China grapples with a shrinking population and historically low birthrate, people are finding romance with chatbots instead.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ ‘No more rip-off’: South Korea moves to end unfair pricing amid concern over negative image among tourists

    A motel in Busan can charge up to $670 per night leading up to the BTS concert in June.

  • New York Times ☛ Germany’s Leader Merz Delivers a Blunt Warning to China on Trade

    Chancellor Friedrich Merz laid out his complaints in a frank message to his hosts on a trip to Beijing that China had designed to showcase their relationship.

  • ADF ☛ China Ramps Up Debt Collection

    After two decades of loaning African nations billions of dollars for infrastructure projects, China now is focused on extracting payments, straining national budgets and threatening security across the continent.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China’s Spring Festival travel and spending hit record highs, but it’s not all rosy

    Some 596 million domestic trips during the nine-day holiday, but Chinese consumers appeared more prudent.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China warns US it will respond if trade probe spurs new tariffs

    China’s Commerce Ministry was responding to comments by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ Watch, read Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s final State of the State address

    Watch Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's final 2026 State of the State address, or read the full speech, as prepared for delivery.

  • France24 ☛ State of the Union: Convicted Felon makes false, misleading claims about immigration, economy

    During his State of the Union speech, U.S. President The Insurrectionist made a slew of false or misleading claims including about the U.S. economy, immigration and his role in ending wars. France 24's Charlotte Hughes takes a closer look.

  • France24 ☛ Berlinale executives summoned over film director's anti-Israel speech

    German culture officials plan to summon organisers of the Berlin film festival Thursday after the event was rocked this year by controversy over the Israel-Palestinian conflict and Gaza war. Bild daily reported that Tricia Tuttle, the US director of the Berlinale, is expected to be sacked at the meeting, citing sources close to the KBB, the state-owned company that runs the festival. FRANCE 24's Nick Holdsworth reports from Berlin.

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Morality is a Long Game

    Remembering Jesse Jackson as a Kind Man As you doubtless know now, Jesse Jackson has left us to make our way without him. People have been speaking of the broad sweep of Jackson’s life, how he trailblazed for the rights of many marginalized.

  • CS Monitor ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s new retirement plan builds on a bipartisan model

    In a Convicted Felon-proposed plan, private-sector workers without employer-sponsored plans could save in a 401(k) with a government match of up to $1,000 per year. The idea in his State of the Union speech builds on a Biden-era effort.

  • Misinformation/Disinformation/Propaganda

    • New York Times ☛ Can Hey Hi (AI) Detection Tools Really Spot Fake Images and Videos?

      Artificial intelligence detectors are increasingly used to check the veracity of content online. We ran more than 1,000 tests and found several strengths and plenty of weaknesses.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Press Gazette ☛ CEO sets out the case for Beehiiv versus Substack

    Creators on Beehiiv making $5m per month from paid subs and pre-sold ads.

  • JURIST ☛ US dispatch: TV network censors political interview over federal broadcasting rule

    The landscape of American late-night television is undergoing significant change amid tensions between TV networks, program producers and federal regulators, fueling debate over the future of political satire on broadcast television.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai wins appeal in fraud case

    It comes days after a court jailed him on separate national security charges.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong court quashes Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction over Apple Daily HQ lease violation

    A Hong Kong appeals court has overturned pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai‘s fraud conviction relating to an alleged lease violation at the now-shuttered Fashion Company Apple Daily newspaper headquarters. His jail term stemming from the case was quashed, though Lai will still remain behind bars, serving 20 years in jail under a separate national security conviction.

  • BIA Net ☛ Seven journalists convicted for taking photos at courtroom

    The journalists' lawyers said the only evidence was a police report.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Former Mail on Sunday exec says emails from phone hacker don’t prove illegality

    Former associate editor Chris Anderson was pitched stories by convicted hacker Greg Miskiw.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • The Straits Times ☛ Father of Hong Kong activist sentenced to 8 months in jail under national security law

    The father attempted to terminate the activist's insurance policy and withdraw the funds.

  • France24 ☛ Senegal PM vows to double penalty for same-sex relations

    In tonight's edition, Washington is set to cut health aid to Zimbabwe after negotiations over a US-proposed funding deal break down. Also, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announces revamped legislation set to double the maximum penalty for same-sex relations to 10 years in prison. And on a rare visit to Kyiv, Ghana’s foreign minister calls for the release of two Ghanaian prisoners of war captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

  • Green Party UK ☛ Green MP condemns Reform plans for ICE-style deportations

    Reform UK has announced plans to create a deportations agency modelled on ICE – the US governmental agency terrorising communities across the country. Green MP Carla Denyer has released a video condemning Reform’s plans for an ICE-style agency, and criticising Labour for parroting Reform’s hate.

  • Audiocasts/Shows

    • Freedom From Religion Foundation ☛ ‘We Dissent’ reintroduces an old friend to dig into the federal courts

      A former “We Dissent” host returns to the show!

      On Episode 50, FFRF Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell and Americans United Legal Director Rebecca Markert welcome back National Women’s Law Center Director of Nominations and Democracy Alison Gill, former co-host of the podcast. Alison shares what she’s been up to since leaving the pod, before walking Rebecca and Liz through the state of the federal bench. Then, the trio discusses federal judicial nominations from recent presidential administrations and what it has meant for religious liberty and other civil rights.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Sahilister ☛ Sahil Dhiman: Publicly Available NKN Data Traffic Graphs

    National Knowledge Network (NKN) is one of India’s main National Research and Educational Network (NREN). The other being the less prevalent Education and Research Network (ERNET).

    This post grew out of this Mastodon thread where I kept on adding various public graphs (from various global research and educational entities) that peer or connect with NKN. This was to get some purview about traffic data between them and NKN.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• LOL483 | The Economics and Ethics of Intellectual Property, Loyola University—New Orleans

• Digital Music News ☛ DOJ Claps Back Against Live Nation’s ‘Meritless Attempt to Delay Trial’ — As the Concert Giant’s Lawyer Quietly Deletes His ‘Time to Move On’ Post

  Days out from the Live Nation antitrust trial kickoff, is the promoter getting cocky? Possibly: The Ticketmaster parent has now pulled its “It’s Time to Move On” blog post, and the DOJ has fired back against a “desperate plea” for “a last-minute stay.”

• Patents

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Extolling the Virtues: ‘Space-Efficient’ Preamble Fails to Limit

    Federal Circuit finds "space-efficient" preamble merely extolls claimed structure, reverses indefiniteness. NDA breach claims fail on pleading grounds.

  • Latvia ☛ 2025 was a good year for trademarks and patents in Latvia [Ed: More is not better, better is better, higher quality/merit]

    In 2025, the number of applications for the registration of industrial property in Latvia increased significantly, with the sharpest rise was recorded in the fields of trademarks and patents, reports Labs of Latvia.

  • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Tie Goes to the Runner? Three Months of SMED Practice at the USPTO

    First empirical look at Subject Matter Eligibility Declarations in practice. Seven SMEDs filed since December 2025 reveal emerging patterns.

• Copyrights

  • Digital Music News ☛ Are Opt-Outs Impossible? Musician Fires Back Against Stability Hey Hi (AI) In Training-Focused Infringement Suit

    Want to opt out of Hey Hi (AI) music generators’ training datasets? Good luck: Stability Hey Hi (AI) is aggressively seeking to dismiss the infringement lawsuit filed by musician Anders Manga, who’s firing back against the push.

  • Digital Music News ☛ D4vd Confirmed to Be Subject of L.A. County Grand Jury Investigation Into Death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez

    Singer D4vd is confirmed to be the target of a LA County grand jury investigation into the death of a teen girl who was found in the trunk of his car.

  • Public Domain Review ☛ The Blinkered Flâneur: Walking with Franz Hessel in 1920s Berlin

    Does the flâneur, that curiously modern figure who wanders metropolitan streets, have a political consciousness? For Franz Hessel — author of Spazieren in Berlin, “a memorization while strolling” that Walter Benjamin called “thoroughly epic” — the answer seemed to be no. Paul Sullivan explores Hessel’s perambulations through Berlin and the achievements and limitations of his vision.