Leftovers

• Science / Mathematics / Computer Science

  • Science Alert ☛ Astronomers May Have Found a Planet in The Habitable Zone of The Hottest Star Yet

    Another milestone discovery.

  • Science Alert ☛ Watch Plasma Erupt in Full Color Inside a Fusion Reactor at 16,000 FPS

    The glow of deuterium and lithium inside Tokamak Energy's ST40 fusion reactor. (Tokamak Energy/YouTube)

    Look at this spectacular nonsense.

• Career/Education

  • France24 ☛ New York Gov pushes for probe into Cornell's handling of gang rape allegation

    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday called for an investigation into Cornell University's response to a 2024 gang rape allegation in which a woman says she was sexually assaulted by seven students after being plied with alcohol and drugs. It comes as prosecutors reopen an investigation into the alleged rape following claims the elite college failed to properly punish the men involved.

  • International Business Times ☛ Cornell 7 Case Sparks Backlash After Man Asks Why Woman Drank 10 Shots: 'Men Shouldn't Be Trusted'

    A Fentanylware (CheeTok) debate has intensified over allegations involving seven former Cornell students as prosecutors reopen their investigation and consider presenting evidence to a grand jury.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Straits Times ☛ Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Sadikin hopes to be first South-east Asian chief at WHO

    Budi says talks with more than 70 health ministers have shaped his ideas for reforming WHO.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong authorities hail scheme for reducing average sodium levels in bread by up to 17%

    Hong Kong authorities have hailed a health scheme that encouraged bread manufacturers to cut the average sodium levels in their products by up to 17 per cent, following a report that found most adults in the city consume more salt than the recommended daily intake.

  • Science Alert ☛ Eating One Type of Fruit Is Linked to Better Heart Health, Study of 371,000 Americans Reveals

    Not all fruit products are created equal.

  • Science Alert ☛ Alzheimer's Might Be a Third Type of Diabetes, Some Scientists Argue

    Insulin is also produced in the brain.

  • Science Alert ☛ Melting Permafrost Is Poisoning Rivers With Metal Levels 70 Times Higher Than Normal

    An unexpected side effect of a thawing world.

  • Science Alert ☛ Popular Supplement Could Have an Unexpected Downside, Study Finds

    It's important to get the full story.

  • Science Alert ☛ Alzheimer's Protein Just Behaved Exactly Like a Prion in Mouse Brains

    Horror in slow motion.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Connected 3 Human Mini-Brains in a Dish. They Learned Something The Others Couldn't.

    Oh good.

  • Science Alert ☛ Science Says Who You Eat Dinner With Matters as Much as What's on Your Plate

    We are social creatures.

  • Science Alert ☛ Ozempic-Like Drugs Could Have a Surprising Effect on Alcohol Cravings

    Thirsty?

• Proprietary / Vendor Lock-in / Malware

  • Qt ☛ Qt 6.12 LTS Released!

    The 6.12 release for Qt Framework is now available, with improved cybersecurity, UI performance, and a wealth of capabilities to mix-and-match from across your architectural layers. As a Long-Term Support release, Qt 6.12 is not a simple incremental update, but a culmination of various efforts started years ago. Take a closer look.

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

    • New York Times ☛ Late Night Is Skeptical of Hey Hi (AI) Leaders Self-Regulating

      “Sure, we don’t need laws! I’m sure we could trust these guys,” Jordan Klepper said of technology executives on “The Daily Show,” after Convicted Felon asked them to police themselves.

    • [Repeat] FSF ☛ FSF comments on Newsom's executive order on so-called artificial intelligence

      We hope our readers understand the problems inherent in giving one single or a small number of kill switches to anyone. Newsom wisely wants an independent organization to verify their functionality, but even this still sets too dangerous of a precedent. We cannot allow such centralization of power over our computing to become commonplace, especially by the corporations that provide these models in the first place. We also cannot trust even the most well-intentioned "independent organization" to take care of its verification.

    • FOSS Force ☛ The FSF’s Warning on Hey Hi (AI) Kill Switches

      The FSF’s concerns go beyond whether Hey Hi (AI) platforms need kill switches. They extend to who controls them—and whether users will have any say.

    • International Business Times ☛ Alexandra Cross' 'Goodbye to ChatGPT' Goes Viral, but Netizens See a Cry for Help: 'She's Telling Us How Isolated She Is'

      Influencer Alexandra Cross sparked viral reactions after presenting a fake goodbye to ChatGPT. Viewers briefly treated the Fentanylware (CheeTok) trend as a genuine Hey Hi (AI) breakup before she revealed the joke.

    • Futurism ☛ That Company That Buys Struggling News Sites and Turns Them Into AI-Powered Content Mills Has Halted Publishing After a Futurism Investigation

      Brown Brothers Media has ceased publication — for now.

    • Security Week ☛ FTC is Investigating Proprietary Chaffbot Company and Anthropic Over Possible Risks to Consumers

      An FTC spokesperson confirmed the investigation but declined further comment.

    • Futurism ☛ The FTC Is Now Investigating Frontier Hey Hi (AI) Labs Following Countless Hacks by Out-of-Control Agents

      It's forcing Hey Hi (AI) executives to testify in Washington, DC.

    • New York Times ☛ F.T.C. Investigates Proprietary Chaffbot Company and Anthropic Over Potential Consumer Harms

      The agency will examine whether Hey Hi (AI) labs have broken federal laws prohibiting companies from unfair and deceptive practices.

    • Silicon Angle ☛ FTC reportedly investigating OpenAI, Anthropic over potential consumer risks [Ed: Accounting fraud

      The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is reportedly investigating Proprietary Chaffbot Company Group PBC, Anthropic PBC and other artificial intelligence providers.  The New York Times today cited a source as saying that the probe covers multiple areas. According to the report, the FTC plans to review whether the companies have engaged in unfair or deceptive practices.

    • Futurism ☛ New Proprietary Chaffbot Company Product Fails Spectacularly During Live On-Stage Demo

      The Hey Hi (AI) was "having a slow morning."

    • Futurism ☛ People Who Drink Their Own Pee Are Obsessed With AI, Using It to Reassure Themselves That It’s a Miraculous Cure-All

      The power of AI.

    • Futurism ☛ RFK Jr Announcing That Hey Hi (AI) Is Now Better Than Human Doctors Shows That He Is a Buffoon Who Is Ruining Trust in American Health Institutions

      "If somebody tells you, 'Masks work, trust the experts,' Hey Hi (AI) may tell you otherwise."

    • Futurism ☛ Here’s the Email You Get When an Proprietary Chaffbot Company Model Hacks Your Organization

      OpenAI will wish you the "best" after hacking into your company.

    • Licensing / Legal

      • 404 Media ☛ Lawyer Cites ChatGPT-Invented Fake Witnesses in Murder Appeal

        Lawyers getting caught using AI and submitting errors to the court has been a big problem for years, and the judge is right: It’d be very hard to avoid hearing about this pattern of “stupidity” unless you were living under a rock. There has been case after case after case showing attorneys failing their clients by submitting error-riddled AI-generated documents in their filings, and are the definition of “you had one job:” in the case of AI-brained lawyers, they can’t seem to resist taking shortcuts regardless of how risky it is for their own careers and their clients lives.

  • Social Control Media

    • Jim Nielsen ☛ Dear Software Makers

      Marques Brownlee just released a video essay titled “Dear YouTube”.

      I loved it.

      He talks about how YouTube is going to start shipping this new feature where makers can essentially publish different “variants” of their videos and see which performs best (an A/B test).

    • If buying isn’t owning, then piracy isn’t stealing (YouTube)

      If buying isn’t owning, then piracy isn’t stealing (YouTube)

• Linux Foundation

  • LWN ☛ The 'Linux' Foundation Technical Advisory Board 2026 election approaches

    The election for members of the 'Linux' Foundation Technical Advisory Board

    will be held electronically after the close of the upcoming Linux Plumbers Conference. The call for

    candidates is open, with a nomination deadline of October 7.

    There are five seats to fill this time, including the one vacated by the

    unfortunate passing of Dan Williams.

    Serving on the TAB is a good way to help the kernel-development community.

    Please see this article from last year for

    an overview of what the TAB does and why membership is rewarding, then

    consider putting in your nomination.

• Security

  • Privacy/Surveillance

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Meta's Muse Hey Hi (AI) agent accused of ignoring user permissions and accessing forbidden personal user data

      Meta's Muse Hey Hi (AI) agent has been accused of ignoring user permissions and accessing forbidden personal user data on an iPhone and Mac, including iMessages.

• Defence/Aggression

  • The Straits Times ☛ Republican committee chair calls for scrutiny of Seoul's China ties

    The Republican chair of the congressional committee focused on China is calling on the Convicted Felon administration to scrutinize US ally South Korea's warming ties with China, which he said pose "significant risks" to the United States.

  • The Strategist ☛ Fault Lines – Taiwan’s arms hopes, Indonesia’s carrier, Fiji’s chiefs

    Welcome to the latest edition of ASPI’s Fault Lines. Every fortnight, ASPI’s Defence Strategy Program monitors the actions and developments shaping the regional order and Australia’s security.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Pentagon gets pwned as breach exposes sensitive data on nearly three million military and civilian personnel

    Hackers have breached the U.S. Department of Defense's information systems. The Pentagon says that it has already secured the source of the leak, but the records of millions of DoD personnel are now in the wild.

  • Zimbabwe ☛ Zimbabwe’s Embassy Has a Cybersecurity Problem Hiding in Plain Sight

    Whenever I see a serious cybersecurity lapse, I believe it must be called out. Cybersecurity is not a luxury, particularly when we are talking about a sovereign state, diplomatic missions and official government communications. A document issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in London, dated 28 September 2026, provides a typical example.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Taiwan transfers naval commander to Coast Guard to boost deterrence against China

    Taiwan’s Coast Guard is regularly deployed to shadow and warn away the Chinese Coast Guard.

  • The Straits Times ☛ UN refugee agency concerned by Malaysia returns to Myanmar

    GENEVA, Sept 30 - The United Nations Refugee Agency on Wednesday said it was concerned by Malaysia’s return of more than 1,000 people to Myanmar because of the dire humanitarian conditions there.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan drops out of top 10 holiday spots for Chinese travellers amid tensions

    The shift comes after China urged citizens to refrain from travelling to Japan in November 2025.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan kill nine, Kabul says

    KABUL, Oct 1 - Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan killed 9 people and injured 11 more on Thursday, the Afghan Taliban government said, amid an escalation in fighting between the South Asian neighbours after three months of relative calm.

  • Digital Music News ☛ After the Failed Attack on a Taylor Swift Concert in Austria, One of the Terrorists Actually Sued Disney

    A defendant who pleaded guilty to planning the attack on Taylor Swift’s Vienna concert in 2024 lost a privacy lawsuit against Disney this week.

  • France24 ☛ British PM alleges there are 'strong indications' Iran was involved in Fairford airbase incident

    UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday insisted that there were "strong indications" that Tehran was involved in a security incident on Sunday near an airbase in England that the US military uses in its war against Iran. The British government has still not explained the nature of the incident – in which five British men were arrested only to be later released on bail – and no explosives were found at the scene.

  • France24 ☛ Syria: An exclusive look at the integration of Uyghur fighters in armed forces

    Several factions of foreign fighters are credited with helping topple Syria's Bashar al-Assad nearly two years ago - among them, the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim, Turkic ethnic minority spread across Central Asia - notably in China's Xinjiang region. They eventually became amongst the largest contingents of foreign fighters in Syria, though those who have stayed and built lives there are notoriously secretive. However, France 24's Wassim Nasr was recently in Syria and had exclusive access to Uyghur fighters there.

  • France24 ☛ Execution of convicted US killer Christa Pike fails despite two lethal injections

    Christa Pike, who has been on death row for more than 30 years for torturing and murdering a classmate, was on Wednesday set to be executed, but the lethal injections meant to kill her failed. Pike was then transported to a medical facility, but except for the fact that she is still alive, her lawyers said they had not been informed about her condition.

  • International Business Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man and Netanyahu Praise Hero Pilot Whose 'Ukrainian, Emirati or Indian' Identity Confuses Media in 9/11 Plot

    Captain Smit Machchhar and passengers helped stop an alleged cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight, which diverted to Saudi Arabia as investigators examined the co-pilot's motive.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • LRT ☛ Czechia would send two brigades in event of Russian attack on Baltics, PM says

      Czechia would send two mechanised brigades in case of a Russian attack against the Baltic states, the country’s Prime Minister Andrej Babiš told a local news website on Tuesday.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania to ban Belarusian, Russian nationals from owning property near strategic sites

      Lithuania’s government on Wednesday approved a draft legislation banning Russian and Belarusian nationals from purchasing property in areas located near strategic sites, even if they hold residence permits.

    • LRT ☛ American troops are coming back to Lithuania. Will they stay?

      After a six-month break, US troops are set to return to Lithuania, with about 1,000 soldiers expected to deploy under a new rotation. Lithuanian officials and defence experts say the return sends a strong deterrence message to Russia, while Vilnius is also seeking a permanent US military presence.

    • NYPost ☛ Moscow threatens nuclear response over tiny fortress wedged between US allies as clash fears grow

      The Russian document also raised the possibility of strikes against "decision-making centers" in NATO member states from the outset of a conflict.

    • Security Week ☛ Russian APT Star Blizzard Uses ‘RedFlick’ Infection Chain in Recent Attacks

      The state-sponsored group has launched larger-scale phishing campaigns to deploy the CosmicPulse backdoor.

    • Latvia ☛ Britain pledges nuclear deterrent to defence of Baltic

      In response to potential Russian threats, Britain has committed to providing nuclear protection to the members of the Joint Response Force (JRF), including the Baltic states, reports Latvian Television.

    • New York Times ☛ How Ukraine’s Naval Drones Are Remaking War at Sea

      They began as modified motorboats. Now, Ukrainian sea drones act as miniature aircraft carriers, and other countries want in.

    • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea made no military aid pledge to Ukraine over transfer of North Koreans: Lawmaker

      Ukraine has not apologised or expressed regret over the disclosure so far.

    • RFERL ☛ Air Strikes Kill Several In Ukraine As Russia Focuses Attacks On Energy Facilities

      A Russian missile and drone strike killed at least three people, including a child, in Kyiv and the surrounding region, Ukrainian authorities reported.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania to ban Belarusian, Russian artists who performed in occupied Ukraine

      Lithuania’s government on Wednesday approved a proposal to ban Belarusian and Russian artists and other cultural figures from performing in the country if they had worked in occupied or annexed Ukrainian territories.

    • France24 ☛ Russia launches major attack on Ukraine’s energy grid, causing power cuts

      Russia launched its heaviest combined assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in months on Wednesday, killing seven people and triggering emergency power cuts in Kyiv and nearby regions. The strikes came as officials warned of a difficult winter amid Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure.

    • Latvia ☛ CERT: Repeated attacks on municipal surveillance systems in Latvia

      Recently, there have been repeated attacks on surveillance systems, cameras and smart building control systems in several regions of Latvia, Varis Teivāns, deputy head of the cyber incident response agency ‘Cert.lv’, said in an interview on the Latvian Television programme ‘Morning Panorama’ on September 30.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ Indonesian governor orders halt on data-centre project by Singapore’s BDx due to lack of permits

      Governor Dedi Mulyadi said he supported investment in West Java, provided projects were environmentally friendly.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • International Business Times ☛ Oman Turtle Reserve Rules Explained After Influencer Sat on Sea Turtle: No Night Entry Without a Permit

      Oman turtle reserve rules cap camping at 80 people, ban camera lights after 10 pm, and forbid driving on beaches, as a Ukrainian trainer faces legal action at Ras Al Hadd.

    • BIA Net ☛ Ankara court annuls ban on feeding stray animals

      The court concluded that feeding activities could be regulated and monitored to protect public and health rather than being prohibited altogether.

    • Futurism ☛ New Jersey So Flooded That a Shark Was Spotted Swimming Through a Suburban Neighborhood

      "It's coming this way!"

    • The Straits Times ☛ Lost shark becomes viral star in South Korea

      The bull shark earned plaudits from the local mayor and even moved the stock market.

• Finance

  • CS Monitor ☛ It’s now the EU’s turn to avert a trade conflict with China

    The European Union and China hold meetings next week in Beijing for high-stakes trade talks, as the EU tries to steer clear of a all-out trade war.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ China’s former market regulator head to be tried for graft

    The former head of China’s financial markets regulator will be tried for corruption, according to state media Wednesday, the latest high-profile official to fall under Beijing’s sweeping anti-graft campaign.

  • BBC ☛ Man City not 'above the rules', says No 10 after backlash to Burnham remarks

    Downing Street has said Manchester City are not "above the rules" after Andy Burnham was criticised for his comments about the club's breaches of Premier League financial rules.

    The prime minister said on Wednesday he would be "really concerned" if the club's owners decide to sell up after City were found guilty by an independent commission of most of the 115 charges they faced.

  • BBC ☛ HMRC urged to scrutinise tax implications of Man City case

    Findings from the Premier League's case against Manchester City require scrutiny from His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the chair of a cross-party group of MPs has told the tax authority.

    It was confirmed on Tuesday that an independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

    City have repeatedly denied guilt, and have signalled an intent to lodge an appeal by Friday.

    The club were found to have artificially inflated revenue through "sham" sponsorship agreements with the help of their owners.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korean leader ‘extremely obese’: Seoul spy agency

    His health is closely watched as his sudden death could raise questions over succession and stability.

  • ACLU ☛ Will Convicted Felon Administration Officials Be Held Accountable for Defying a Court Order? The Courts Are Still Deciding.

    The ACLU argued in court that Convicted Felon administration officials broke the law by defying a judge’s order and sending 100 Venezuelan men to a notoriously brutal prison in El Salvador without due process.

  • Breach Media ☛ No youth jobs? Mark Carney says join the military [iophk: That's what the Reagan administration did: collapse the economy and eliminate the industries which employed everyone and make the population desperate enough to join the military for long-ass contracts. "... closed its once-thriving auto plants, laying off 35,000 workers, moved its auto operations to Mexico, and entered the re-armaments industry ..." For all practical purposes the US has economic conscription. If you're poor enough, you basically *have* to go into the military. If you're not too fat or drug adled.]

    The Carney government is making military careers more attractive even as public-sector jobs disappear and a promised youth climate jobs program remains unfunded

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ The Insurrectionist vowed a ‘Michigan miracle.’ How that promise and others are going

    The president made 100-plus promises to Michigan voters. He’s followed through on immigration and tax cuts, made progress on manufacturing and failed to lower costs, end inflation or boost the economy.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • BIA Net ☛ More accounts banned on X amid censorship wave

    Hundreds of X accounts, including those of journalists and rigths groups, have been made inaccesseible in Turkey since early September.

  • BIA Net ☛ Court censors news about doctor's detention after refusing to examine prosecutor without appointment

    The court blocked the article on the grounds of protecting the prosecutor's personal rights after the 2021 inident.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • International Business Times ☛ Cornell 7 Defendant's Reported Army Link Prompts Journalist to Call Korean Military Amid Reopened Rape Probe

    A journalist contacted South Korean military officials over claims about Cornell defendant Winston Lee, as prosecutors reopen a sexual assault investigation.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • Privacy International ☛ Human rights standards and guidelines on the use of digital technologies in electoral processes

  • BIA Net ☛ Reopened case into Kaşif Kozinoğlu's death raises more questions than answers

    The investigation has expanded from the circumstances of the former intelligence officer’s 2011 prison death to his medical treatment, former cellmates, prosecutors, journalists and television figures.

  • BIA Net ☛ Journalist Fatih Ergin remanded over social control media post about intelligence officer's death

    Ergin is under investigation for "spreading disinformation" over a social control media post where he described a doctor as forensic medicine personnel.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Internet Society ☛ A Safer Internet Starts with Taking Action: Introducing the Online Trust and Safety Hub

    The Internet Society is pleased to announce the official launch of the Online Trust and Safety Hub. The site shares tools and resources for staying safe online.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ The Ethernet spec was first drafted on this day in 1980

    On this day in 1980, version 1.0 of the Ethernet specification was published by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), Intel, and Xerox.

• Digital Restrictions (DRM)

  • New York Times ☛ How to Listen to Your Favorite Music, Online or Off the Grid [Ed: Reject Digital Restrictions (DRM) and so it how it should be done]

    Streaming services can introduce you to a wonderland of nearly unlimited audio, but downloading your digital collection has advantages.

• Monopolies/Monopsonies

  • Patents

    • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Method or Molecule: Judge Dyk Dissents from En Banc Denial in Teva v. Lilly

      Federal Circuit denies en banc review in Teva v. Lilly over Judge Dyk's dissent, leaving method claims to an antibody genus intact after Amgen.

  • Trademarks

    • Right of Publicity

      • The Straits Times ☛ Japan court rules human voice is protected in Fentanylware (CheeTok) Hey Hi (AI) case

        The lawsuit was filed by Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his starring roles in franchises including Yu-Gi-Oh!

  • Copyrights

    • Creative Commons ☛ Openness & Digital Sovereignty: Who Sustains the Commons?

      On September 21st, Creative Commons convened leading experts, practitioners, and builders for a day of conversation about the collaborative underpinnings of openness, investigating all the layers of the stack for a better, shared understanding of what openness can—and cannot—do to help communities and nations drive towards digital sovereignty.

    • Digital Music News ☛ ‘The Song Is Non-Negotiable’: Indie Music Giants Unite to Force a Fair Licensing Framework

      Indie publishing orgs IMPF and IMPEL have outlined a licensing framework for generative Hey Hi (AI) to create a fair and sustainable market for the future.

    • Digital Music News ☛ Thomson Reuters Scores Appeals Court Win In Closely-Watched ‘Fair Use’ Copyright Case — Defendant’s Copying Was ‘Highly Commercial and Minimally Transformative’

      After more than half a decade of litigation, Thomson Reuters has scored an appeals-court win in its “fair use” copyright monopoly infringement dispute with a now-defunct company called Ross Intelligence.

    • New York Times ☛ Google Wants Hollywood to Stop Being So Afraid of Technology [Ed: Google (GAFAM) tried to stigmatise as paranoia an opposition to slop plagiarism and overhyped nonsense]

      100 Zeros, a collaboration between Surveillance Giant Google and Range Media Partners, aims to give the tech giant a foothold in movies, TV and emerging forms of entertainment.

    • Digital Music News ☛ Oasis Auction Abruptly Suspended After Band Takes Legal Action

      A set of tapes of unheard Oasis recordings has been suspended from auction after the band filed an injunction to block their sale. The lot of tapes of never-before-heard Oasis recordings, dubbed The Desk Tapes, has been suspended from auction following an injunction filed by the band to block their sale.

    • Public Domain Review ☛ “There is Nothing but Immortality!”: Walt Whitman and The Book of Heavenly Death (1905)

      Choice excerpts from *Leaves of Grass* that speak to Whitman’s conception of immortality.

    • Public Domain Review ☛ Philip Sidney and the Extreme (Dis)graces of the Parenthesis

      Erasmus called them “little moons” and George Puttenham praised them as “figures of tolerable disorder” (if used not too often “nor too thick”). For Philip Sidney, they were simply indispensable. Florence Hazrat introduces us to the uncontested early modern king of brackets and to his romance Arcadia, which abruptly ends, like its author’s life, hanging on a parenthesis.