Leftovers

• France24 ☛ Sebastian Stan unrecognisable in Cannes drama "Fjord"

  Cannes is buzzing over Sebastian Stan’s dramatic transformation in "Fjord", while Alicia Vikander shocks audiences in the blood-soaked Korean sci-fi thriller "Hope" – one of the festival’s biggest breakout hits. France 24's Culture editor Eve Jackson brings us the latest from the festival.

• Digital Music News ☛ ‘Michael’ Takes Korea as Global Box Office Surges

  The Michael Jackson biopic has moonwalked to #1 at the South Korean box office over the weekend, with over 51% of the weekend market share. Michael easily claimed the top spot at the South Korean box office over the weekend, earning $3.6 million from 470,375 admissions, earning 51.03% of the weekend market share.

• Science / Mathematics / Computer Science

  • Science Alert ☛ WATCH: A Spacecraft Is Launching to Study How Earth Survives Solar Storms

    The first-ever X-ray observations of our planet's magnetic field.

  • Science Alert ☛ Where You Live May Affect How Rapidly You Age, Sweeping Study Finds

    It's not just genetics.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Keep Finding Major Discoveries Lurking in Museum Backrooms

    Here are six of the best.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Found a Remarkable Way to Help Kids Like Vegetables

    Fetuses can't be picky eaters.

  • Science Alert ☛ Fog Is Teeming With Life, And It May Be Doing Us a Surprising Favor

    "If they are growing, then the droplets are a habitat."

  • Science Alert ☛ Brain 'Zaps' From Contact Lenses May Help Ease Depression, Mouse Study Shows

    An intriguing idea that needs further testing.

  • Science Alert ☛ Ebola Emergency: Here's What We Know About This Deadly Outbreak

    There's no vaccine for this strain.

• Career/Education

  • Mexico News Daily ☛ Mexico’s CNTE teachers’ union threatens national strike ahead of the World Cup

    The threat may be a negotiating ploy. According to a union spokesperson, what happens next depends on President Sheinbaum's response to the teachers' demands.

  • Futurism ☛ Grade Inflation Is Going Nuts as Every Student Is Basically Submitting the Same Essay

    It's an A grade or bust.

• Hardware

  • New York Times ☛ Peter G. Neumann, Who Warned of Computer Security Risks, Dies at 93

    For decades, he criticized the industry’s lax attitudes toward computer security and individual digital privacy. He also developed solutions.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Straits Times ☛ Indonesia heightens Ebola surveillance at border checkpoints after WHO’s global emergency alert

    There is no approved vaccines or specific treatment for the disease’s Bundibugyo strain causing the current outbreak.

  • New York Times ☛ What to Know About the Ebola Outbreak, as U.S. Restricts Travelers

    The United States restricted entry of people who have been to three African countries, after the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency. The outbreak has killed more than 100.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Ebola outbreak: Hong Kong ramps up precautions

    Hong Kong has stepped up precautions over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the epidemic “a public health emergency of international concern.”

  • France24 ☛ Damage control over prevention: International health system 'closing gaps instead pushing forward'

    François Picard is pleased to welcome Anne Moore, Professor of Biochemistry at University College Cork. She is warning about the seriousness of the latest Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain. While tests and vaccines exist for the Zaire strain, Professor Moore says “we don’t yet have proof that vaccines work against the current strain” and the tests have not yet been designed to detect Bundibugyo. Moore stressed that shrinking international funding is weakening the global response: “we’re plugging gaps instead of deploying the full countermeasures we could.” Moore broadens her analysis beyond virology, arguing for international solidarity and institutional resilience.

  • France24 ☛ DRC Ebola outbreak 'way bigger that what we see now', virologist says

    M​edical personnel were rushing on Monday to the frontlines of a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with cases also confirmed in Uganda. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Muhammad Munir, Professor in Virology at Lancaster University. He says that "the scale of the outbreak is way bigger than what we're having now and that is the reason the WHO decided on a public health emergency of international concern".

  • New York Times ☛ Ebola Was Identified in Congo Weeks Before W.H.O. Declared an Emergency

    Early surveillance and testing failed to identify the rare species of Ebola responsible for the current outbreak. An American doctor is among the confirmed cases.

  • France24 ☛ US tightens Ebola precautions as outbreak declared international emergency

    The United States said Monday it is bolstering precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola, including screening air travellers from outbreak-hit areas and temporarily suspending visa services, as the World Health Organization declares the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo an international health emergency.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ Study of PFAS levels in Michigan firefighters raises cautious optimism

    Despite being at greater risk, a new study indicates the state’s firefighters have similar exposure to the toxic ‘forever chemicals’ as the rest of America.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Not so rosy: Flower growers battle stormy weather in Malaysia

    Persistent downpours have hit flower growers hard, affecting harvests, ­driving up costs and weakening demand.

  • New York Times ☛ How a Hantavirus Outbreak Turned a Nature Cruise Into a Nightmare

    The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius set off alarms for a world still traumatized by Covid. For those on board, the danger was much closer.

  • Federal News Network ☛ EEOC orders compensation for feds denied religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine

    A new appellate decision from EEOC ordered a reversal of the denied religious exemptions, compensation for the affected employees and a new investigation.

  • New York Times ☛ Abortion Pill Lawsuit Leaves Convicted Felon in a Political Bind Ahead of the Midterms

    Louisiana wants the Food and Drug Administration to curtail access to the medication. Doing so could cost Republicans at the polls.

• Proprietary / SaaS

  • So-Called 'Artificial Intelligence' ('AI') / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • New York Times ☛ The Generation That Grew Up With Hey Hi (AI) Hates It

      Why graduates are booing artificial intelligence.

    • Scoop News Group ☛ AI might cut false positives, but it won’t stop the slop

      Anthropic and Proprietary Chaffbot Company promise their latest tools will find more vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity employees say they’re already flooded with AI-generated reports.

    • New York Times ☛ MElon Loses $150 Billion Suit Against Proprietary Chaffbot Company and Scam Altman

      A nine-member jury found that Mr. MElon had waited too long to sue. The setback for the tech mogul frees Proprietary Chaffbot Company to continue in the artificial intelligence race.

    • Futurism ☛ People Are Getting Plastic Surgery to Look More AI-Generated

      "It's like saying I want to look like Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid.'"

    • New York Times ☛ What to Know About MElon’s Trial Against OpenAI

      A jury in Oakland, Calif., reached a decision after a three-week-long trial seen as pivotal for the future of Proprietary Chaffbot Company and the artificial intelligence race.

    • New York Times ☛ After MElon’s Court Loss Comes the Long Hot Hey Hi (AI) Summer

      Even as protests increase, the collapse of Mr. MElon’s suit against Proprietary Chaffbot Company and Scam Altman will speed up the artificial intelligence juggernaut.

    • It's FOSS ☛ Someone Vibe-Coded Lightroom CC Into Running on Linux, and I am Not Touching It

      It works if you trust the Hey Hi (AI) agent that also took screenshots as proof.

    • Silicon Angle ☛ Eric Schmidt booed during commencement speech over Hey Hi (AI) remarks

      Former Surveillance Giant Google LLC Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt drew boos from students during a commencement speech he gave over the weekend. The jeers came in response to Schmidt’s comments about the economic impact of artificial intelligence. The high-profile incident is at least the third of its kind to have occurred in the past two weeks.

    • New York Times ☛ MElon Loses His Blockbuster Case Against OpenAI

      Also, a railroad strike disrupts commutes into New York City. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.

    • France24 ☛ Federal court rejects MElon's claims against OpenAI, saying he filed his lawsuit too late

      A federal jury ruled Monday that MElon waited too long to sue Proprietary Chaffbot Company and its co-founders, delivering a decisive victory to the Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot startup and ending one of Silicon Valley's most closely watched courtroom battles. The swift decision caps a three-week trial that saw a parade of tech titans take the stand, with MElon arguing that OpenAI's pivot to a profit-driven business betrayed its original nonprofit mandate. FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet reports from Los Angeles.

    • Futurism ☛ An Entire “Local Newspaper” Just Shut Down When All Its Reporters Were Busted as Hey Hi (AI) Fakes

      "Clearly, whoever's behind this does not care about the truth."

    • France24 ☛ Musk loses landmark lawsuit against Proprietary Chaffbot Company after jury finds he filed his claim too late

      The world's richest man MElon lost his blockbuster lawsuit against artificial intelligence giant Proprietary Chaffbot Company on Monday, with a federal jury finding that the tycoon had waited too long to bring his case forward. The trial saw some of the most powerful figures in Silicon Valley go head-to-head with their competing ambitions for the rapidly changing technology.

    • France24 ☛ MElon loses lawsuit against Proprietary Chaffbot Company and Scam Altman

      Tech billionaire MElon has lost his $160 billion dollar lawsuit against Proprietary Chaffbot Company and its chief Scam Altman in a federal court in California.  After 11 days of testimonies and arguments, a 9-member jury deliberated for less than two hours to reach a unanimous verdict, saying MElon filed the case too late, beyond the statute of limitations.  Also on the show, research finds US drivers have spent over $40 billion in additional fuel costs since the start of the Iran war.

  • Social Control Media

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ 2-month suspended jail term for elderly man who reposted social control media call to boycott legislative elections

      A 67-year-old man has been handed a two-month jail term, suspended for 24 months, after he pleaded guilty to resharing a social control media post urging a boycott of the 2025 “patriots only” legislative elections.

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Purism ☛ Geofence Warrants, Location Data, and the Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age

      The Supreme Court’s consideration of geofence warrants represents one of the most technically and constitutionally significant privacy cases of the modern era. The core issue is whether bulk collection of location metadata—generated by consumer devices and cloud-based services—can coexist with the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable searches.

    • AccessNow ☛ Joint letter to Abusive Monopolist Microsoft regarding Israeli military use of Microsoft trap Azure cloud and Hey Hi (AI) services

      A follow up to our open letter regarding Microsoft’s formal review of recent allegations about Israel’s usage of Microsoft trap Azure cloud for the surveillance and targeting of Palestinians.

    • AccessNow ☛ Microsoft: it’s time to come clean about your ties to the Israeli military

      Through a new joint letter, we're calling on Abusive Monopolist Microsoft to publish the findings of its review into the Israeli military’s use of the company services.

    • OpenRightsGroup ☛ The ICO isn’t doing its job – why the data watchdog needs to be reset

      The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is currently missing its Commissioner, after unspecified HR complaints about John Edwards. Whatever the reasons for his absence, the Commissioner’s decision to step back from his role is an opportunity to take stock of the direction of travel of the ICO and outline why it needs a reset.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Site36 ☛ Despite (or because of?) shots fired at “Sea-Watch 5”: EU launches new funding for armed groups in Libya

    After Libyan forces opened fire on the “Sea-Watch 5”, Italy is now investigating – but targeting the victims of the attack. Brussels intends to give the perpetrators €25 million in a new spring programme. Last Monday, the so-called Libyan coast guard fired on the “Sea-Watch 5” in the central Mediterranean.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Marcos says Philippines would be involved in any Taiwan conflict

    The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Ex-mayor of Seoul’s ‘Brooklyn’ sets sights on running South Korean capital

    Fintech start-ups and K-pop agencies occupy prime office space in the eastern Seoul neighbourhood Seongsu.

  • The Strategist ☛ Strike missiles and cheap drones: how Southeast Asia can deter China

    Southeast Asian countries looking for security against China should shift the weight of their defence spending to deploying highly mobile, mostly inexpensive equipment that it would struggle to counter.

  • New York Times ☛ U.S. Airstrikes Kill ISIS Fighters in Nigeria, Officials Say

    U.S. military launched attack in coordination with Nigerian forces days after Hell Toupée said a joint operation had killed Islamic State’s global leader.

  • France24 ☛ Israel built two secret military bases in Iraq to aid Iran war, New York Times reports

    A new report by the New York Times claims Israel built a second secret military base in Iraq’s western desert to support its strikes on Iran, and that the US had knowledge of it. Citing an Iraqi official and lawmaker, the NYT reported that the presence of these bases may have led to the death of the Bedouin shepherd who first sounded the alarm.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China denounces Taiwan foreign minister’s Geneva visit amid WHO assembly

    Beijing began blocking Taiwan's participation in the annual assembly in 2017.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan says China’s military actions are greatest source of regional instability

    Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai expressed concern about what China was up to.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man’s Taiwan Gambit is Already a Gift to China

    Hell Toupée’s open willingness to hold up a $14 billion Taiwan arms package is a win for Beijing. Now China could be weighing how to keep the weapons on ice for as long as it can.

  • The Strategist ☛ China’s influence in Solomons will probably survive leadership change

    China’s influence in Solomon Islands is likely to weather the accession to power on 15 May of a prime minister who’s less favourable to it than his predecessor.

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim calls for making border with South Korea an ‘impregnable fortress’

    Mr Kim Jong Un stressed ideological loyalty and vigilance against the “archenemy”, South Korea.

  • France24 ☛ Three killed in attack at San Diego Islamic centre in suspected hate crime

    Two teenage gunmen opened fire at an Islamic centre in San Diego on Monday, killing three men before taking their own lives nearby, police said. Authorities are investigating the attack as a hate crime, with officials saying a mosque security guard likely prevented further casualties.

  • France24 ☛ Five dead, including two suspects, after shooting at San Diego mosque

    Two teenage gunman opened fire on Monday ​at ‌the Islamic Center of San Diego in California, killing three ⁠men outside the mosque, one of them a security guard, before the two suspects were found dead, ‌apparently from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said. FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet reports from Los Angeles.

  • France24 ☛ Iran officially announces new body to manage Strait of Hormuz

    Iran's top security body announced on Monday the formation of a new body to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has effectively closed and wants to charge ships to traverse. On its official X account, the Supreme National Security Council shared a post for the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) saying it would provide "real?time updates on the #Hormuz_Strait operations and latest developments." FRANCE 24's Reza Sayah reports from Tehran.

  • CS Monitor ☛ Tested by Iran war, Qatar is still faithful to its core mission: Mediation

    Before the war, Qatar had built itself into a diplomatic power by mediating disputes near and far. Hit hard by Iran, the tiny Persian Gulf country is not wavering in that mission, seen as central to its identity. Still, it recognizes it has security needs, too.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Latvia ☛ Rēzekne oil depot to close after drone strike

      SIA "East-West Transit" has suffered minor losses in connection with the drones that crashed at its oil storage facility in Rēzekne on May 7, the company confirmed to LSM. The company did not specify the extent of the losses but said that the facility would close.

    • LRT ☛ Putin’s rule is nearing its end, Kara-Murza says in Vilnius

      Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin appears as a “weak, paranoid old man” whose rule is nearing its end, Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza told BNS in an interview.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Putin says Russia, China ready to back each other on issues such as protecting sovereignty

      He will meet Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping on May 20.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia’s New Human Rights Commissioner Accused of Helping Kidnap Ukrainian Children

      Yana Lantratova was instrumental in helping the chairman of her party to illegally adopt an infant girl from Russian-occupied Ukraine, the Ukrainian authorities say.

    • France24 ☛ Cuba warns of ‘bloodbath’ as US imposes new sanctions amid rising tensions

      Cuba’s leadership warned Monday of a “bloodbath” in the event of a US attack, as Washington imposed new sanctions on the country’s intelligence agency and senior officials. The escalation comes amid reports of heightened military tensions and claims of Cuban drone acquisitions from Russia and Iran.

    • France24 ☛ Cuba warns of 'bloodbath' if US attacks; Washington adds sanctions

      Cuba's leader warned Monday of a "bloodbath" in the event of an American attack, while the US Treasury sanctioned Cuba's main intelligence agency and top leaders as tensions spiked between the arch-foes. President Miguel Diaz-Canel stressed Cuba's right to defend itself a day after US news site Axios reported that Havana had obtained over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran and is mulling using them against US targets. FRANCE 24's Ed Augustin reports from Havana.

    • France24 ☛ Russia and Belarus stage joint nuclear weapons drills

      Moscow and Minsk held joint military drills to practice using Russian nuclear weapons, the Belarus defence ministry said on Monday. Russia deployed nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles to its western neighbour last year, and in 2024 released revised doctrine placing Belarus under its nuclear umbrella.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania decides against withdrawing from Venice Biennale despite Russia controversy

      Lithuania’s Culture Ministry says it is not withdrawing from the Venice Biennale, arguing that a pullout would allow Russia to achieve its aims on its return to the international event.

    • New York Times ☛ He Shut Liquor Stores and Banned Abortion, All for the Glory of Russia

      A firebrand governor aims to transform his region into a laboratory for the Kremlin’s reactionary ideals.

    • RFERL ☛ US Extends Russian Oil Waiver As Bessent Urges Tougher Iran Sanctions

      The US Treasury Department has extended for another 30 days a sanctions waiver allowing at-risk countries to purchase Russian oil shipments at sea, as supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continue to roil global energy markets.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania’s drone early warning system not functioning properly – official

      Lithuania’s drone early warning system is currently not functioning properly and needs more funding and attention, a senior presidential aide said on Monday.

    • Latvia ☛ Latvia's internet space appears to be comparatively civilized

      In 2025, 42.3% of internet users in the EU encountered messages online that they considered hostile and degrading towards specific groups of people or individuals, according to data published by Eurostat on May 15th.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • [Repeat] APNIC ☛ Are data centres moving to DC power?

      Using Direct Current in data centres can yield sizeable energy savings, but there are tradeoffs.

    • Futurism ☛ Alibaba Selling High-Powered Laser Guns

      There are many like it, but this one is mine.

    • France24 ☛ Nationwide protests erupt in Kenya over soaring fuel prices

      In Kenya, deadly fuel price protests have left at least four people dead and hundreds arrested, as demonstrators blame the government’s handling of the fallout from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In eastern DR Congo, a rare variant of the Ebola virus has claimed over 100 lives, with nearly 400 suspected cases prompting concern from neighbouring countries and a declaration of an international health emergency by the WHO. Meanwhile, in Sierra Leone, more women are entering the traditionally male-dominated rickshaw business, seizing new economic opportunities and shifting gender roles.

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korean president orders full probe into botched recovery at Jeju Air crash site

      He called for a full investigation into shortcomings in the government’s initial recovery efforts.

    • The Straits Times ☛ China burns more fossil fuels for power as coal production slips

      China is also facing falling output from wind turbines and nuclear reactors.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Australia secures more jet fuel from China, urea from Brunei

      The government said more than 600,000 barrels, or about 100 million litres, of jet fuel would arrive from early June.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Australia orders China-linked investors to sell stakes in rare earths firm

      Australia on Monday ordered a string of China-linked shareholders to sell their stakes in a rare earths firm, citing the need to protect the sector from outside influences. Northern Minerals is vying to challenge China’s dominance of dysprosium production, a rare earth mineral that is used to make high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ Samsung strike? Four scenarios for the chipmaker’s labour dispute

    Workers are increasingly frustrated that they are not reaping more of the rewards of its success.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Samsung granted court injunction against imminent strike action in last-minute reprieve — talks resume as unions barred from occupying or locking facilities, obstructing workers

    Samsung has been granted an injunction to limit the scope of planned strike action ahead of an 18-day walkout due to start on Thursday.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Starbucks Korea head fired after promotion sparks public uproar

    The Tank Day promotion was seen to recall tanks ramming protesters who fought against the dictatorship in the 1980s.

  • Federal News Network ☛ The IRS’ service picture may be improving, but taxpayers are still running into real friction

    "It's going to be a critical year to gather that feedback and provide a meaningful recommendation by next year on that paperless journey," Philip Hwang said.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • Latvia ☛ Foundation set up to manage Raimonds Pauls' intellectual rights and legacy

    A foundation named "Raimonda Paula Fonds" (Raimonds Pauls' Foundation) has been officially registered, the founders of which are Raimonds Pauls and his daugther, Anete Paula.

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Ellis Boyle’s Threat Prosecution Hobby

    Ellis Boyle charged Jim Comey more harshly for his non-threat than he charged several other people charged in the same time frame for actually issuing real threats to Convicted Felon or his top aides.

  • New York Times ☛ South Korea and Japan’s Leaders Are Set to Meet: What to Know

    Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, and South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, have surprised many observers by moving past their nations’ historical grievances.

  • New York Times ☛ Justice Dept. Sets Up $1.8 Billion Fund That Could Funnel Money to Convicted Felon Allies

    The arrangement was denounced by critics as a slush fund for supporters of Hell Toupée, possibly including Jan. 6 rioters.

  • JURIST ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man dismisses $10B IRS lawsuit as DOJ reportedly finalizes $1.776B fund for his allies

    President The Insurrectionist on Monday filed a notice of voluntary dismissal with prejudice of his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

  • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man drops $10 billion IRS lawsuit in exchange for $1.7 billion fund for allies

    The US Justice Department on Monday announced the creation of a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of President The Insurrectionist who believe they were politically persecuted by the department under his predecessor Joe Biden's term in office. The fund is part of a deal to bring an end to Convicted Felon's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service for the leak of his tax returns during his first stint in the White House.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Press Gazette ☛ Journalism job cuts in 2026 tracked: Associated Press lays off 20 people after 40 took voluntary buyouts

  • Press Gazette ☛ Telegraph recorded most Editors’ Code breaches in 2025

    IPSO received 6,534 complaints, up from 4,879 in 2024.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Sky News to bundle perks from three podcasts in first online subscription

    Sky News to charge £2.99 per month for perks including early access, bonus episodes and no ads.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Case of 2 men accused of conspiring to incite others to riot in 2019 moved to higher court

    Two Hong Kong men accused of conspiring to incite people to riot during the 2019 protests and unrest have had their case moved to a higher court, where they face a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment. Ng Tsz-lok, who is unemployed, and photographer Chan Wai-leong appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong court must not ‘pay lip service’ to human rights, lawyer tells trial of Tiananmen vigil activists

    A defence lawyer for a Tiananmen vigil activist has urged a Hong Kong court not to “pay lip service” to human rights protections, arguing that calls to “end one-party rule” in China should be considered legitimate political expressions.

  • ACLU ☛ Recording Law Enforcement is a First Amendment Right

    Hundreds of people across the country have faced retaliation for exercising their First Amendment right to record ICE and other federal agents deployed in their communities.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ MSU’s new ethics policy: Gag order or common-sense loyalty guide for trustees?

    Approved during a rare Sunday meeting, a new ethics policy is drawing criticism from those who say it violates free speech. But proponents say it’s necessary to outline expectations of trustees.

  • Federal News Network ☛ Federal appeals court keeps union contract for 300K VA employees in place amid lawsuit

    This legal battle focuses on a March 2025 executive order that eliminated collective bargaining at more than 20 agencies — including the VA.

• Monopolies/Monopsonies

  • MIT Technology Review ☛ Inside Anduril and Meta’s quest to make smart glasses for warfare

    The defense-tech company Anduril has shared new details about the augmented-reality headset for the military it’s prototyping with Meta, including a vision for ordering drone strikes via eye-tracking and voice commands.

  • Patents

    • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Justice Up Close: The Federal Circuit Opens Its Doors for America 250

      Federal Circuit unveils a Schoolhouse Rock-style theme song and opens its doors July 3 for America 250. Free tickets drop May 19 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

    • JUVE ☛ Setback for Align and Carpmaels & Ransford in orthodontic aligners dispute

      Align Technology is owner of EP 4 295 806, relating to a method of designing clear orthodontic aligners used for tooth movement. Specifically, the patent monopoly covers methods and aligners that use counter moments and differential moments to control tooth movement more precisely during orthodontic treatment, especially in extraction cases.

  • Copyrights

    • Digital Music News ☛ George Clinton Sues UMG for Allegedly ‘Withholding Royalties in Excess of $1.1 Million’ Under 1980 Agreement

      Parliament and Funkadelic frontman George Clinton has fired off a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) for allegedly withholding $1.1 million in royalties “without contractual justification” across a multi-year stretch. Clinton just recently submitted the breach of contract action to a Michigan federal court, naming UMG as the lone defendant. While the 20-page complaint isn’t […]

  • Gemini* and Gopher

    • Personal/Opinions

      • Losing my interiority

        Over the last year I've gotten back into the swing of learning Mandarin and I think I've been making a lot more progress than I have in my many, many past attempts. The big difference this time, I believe, is that I'm spending a lot more energy on immersion learning than spaced repetition. Spaced repetition is a good strategy, but without a sense of where you're going, it's really hard to stay motivated for the literal years it takes to gain proficiency in a new language.

        They say you should be doing at least an hour of immersion practice every day to make meaningful progress. I figure I can spend an hour a day watching television. I probably already do that plenty of days a week, and maybe I'd even feel better about if I could justify it to myself as "studying." But once I put that spin on it, there's a switch that flips somewhere in my brain. Watching TV isn't really something I do intentionally; it's not something I'm planning my week around. It just happens, usually when I'm tired, having already done all the other intentional things I do in a day.