No Agenda-The Saturday Memo

 

No Agenda News 1691 Happy Birthday Adam

Dear Producer,  This is the official Adam Curry 60th birthday show. He's getting old but still has his hair. Congratulate him with a Happy Birthday call out. Click here. This is an important milestone that has to be celebrated. It helps the show on a slow Holiday weekend. Or figure out a donation amount of your choosing with the random donation using your credit card and PayPal. Click here. Or if you need an alternative click here. What is the show worth to you? And this combined Birthday and Labor Day Special needs you as an Executive Producr. This is an important title you can take with you for the rest of your life. It's forever bragging rights and a great thing to do to help the show. Click here for that. Sending a check to PO Box 339, El Cerrito CA 94530 is another to donate way, of course. There are various systems that will send checks for you too. Learn about these systems by clicking here. Non USA checks written in foreign currency are accepted.   NO AGENDA is Your True Independent Media. Thanks to Labor Day, I'm back. Please help the show and donate. Tomorrow's Show Along with a take down of climate fear stories you'll hear about the piss-poor 18 minute supposed interview with Harris and Walz on CNN hosted by the bug-eyed hostess Dana Bash. Besides being a pathetic nothingburger (yes), it was amateurish in every way. Adding Walz to the mix made it worse for Harris who literally looked like a little kid at a dinner table. Who was responsible for staging this event? Generally speaking the heads in a three shot should be within an inch or so of each other. In this case Walz was towering over Harris and Bash was also higher by 3-4 inches. Harris slouching and wearing yet another dumpy pantsuit made it worse since Walz was making himself look bigger all puffed out and showing exaggerated good posture. The Q&A was useless as this was edited to 18 minutes, probably down from an hour or two, and was more vague than any genuine conversation. This was by design. Walz said little and blamed his exaggeration of his military service (and everything else he boasts about) on “bad grammar.” This comment, from a teacher mind you, was a real eye-roller. So nothing was resolved and Kamala Harris is still a rank idiot that half the country will vote for because she is a Democrat, a woman, and a South Asian. That's good enough for most voters. Little kid at the dinner table. Sibling Rivalry Did you know that Tim Walz has a lookalike brother, Jeff, who has nothing good to say about Tim and is thinking of coming out for Trump? Read about it here. Just when you thought things could not be any more nutso. Jeff Walz and Family C:\support The Show is healthier with sustaining donations known as subscriptions. Here are a few to choose from. The favorite is the lucky $33.33 a month. Click here for that. It has superseded the once popular $11.11 month. More lucky numbers click here. Most recently the show offered the $4 a week or 75-cents an hour subscription which has become very popular. Click here for that. There is also the $50 a month Knighthood layaway for 20 months. Click here for that. And, of course, there is the do-it yourself open donation which is always welcome. Memorable Memes   Help No Agenda Today Your No Agenda show covers and analyzes news without interference. This is because the show is not owned by a large corporation nor beholden to advertisers and is solely supported by you. There are no creepy advertisers or corporate or communist influencers telling us what to cover and how to slant things. Sincerely, John C. Dvorak & Adam C. Curry PS Checks should be sent directly to the No Agenda Show, Box 339, El Cerrito CA 94530. Your support means everything. Hypocrite of the Week

Copyright © 2024 No Agenda Show, All rights reserved. Thanks for being part of the No Agenda family! Our mailing address is: No Agenda Show box 339 El Cerrito, CA 94530

Technology News and More-Saturday Edition...

 Technology News and More...

USB Fans Are My Favorite PC Accessory in Summer
100+How-To Geek / 9h
I don't have air conditioning, so I have to rely on alternative ways to keep myself cool while working from home. Traditional pedestal fans are great, but one little accessory that nobody seems to talk about is USB desk fans. If you've never used one, now is the time.


My Capital One Credit Card Strategy: Three Rewarding Cards
2KOne Mile at a Time / 15h
There are lots of aspects to maximizing your credit card rewards, including taking advantage of the best welcome bonuses , spending categories , and card perks . Sometimes I think it’s interesting to break down credit card strategies by card issuer, so in this post I wanted to share my current Capital One card strategy. In separate posts, I wrote about my Amex card strategy , Chase card strategy


4 things I think about when booking basic economy
500+The Points Guy / 6h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. As most frequent travelers know, basic economy has evolved quite significantly since airlines began adding the low-cost fare option over the course of the last decade. Airlines originally saw basic economy as a way to compete with low-cost carriers, and the general principle has remained pretty consistent.

Scientists Plan ‘Doomsday’ Vault on Moon
Wired / 36min
Climate change is threatening Earth’s biodiversity. Could frozen regions of the moon be the best place to “back up” life-forms?


China is spending billions on eight national datacenter hubs
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
China's "East Data West" computing project is apparently in full swing, with $6.1 billion already invested on eight datacenters across the nation, which aims to complete the project by 2025. The project was announced in February 2022 with the aim to complete eight national computing hubs and 10 national datacenter clusters to move more compute resources to China's western regions processing the d


NYT Strands hints, answers for August 31
Mashable / 2h
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands , the New York Times ' elevated word-search game. Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of


Act fast and get Microsoft Office Pro and Windows 11 Pro for £35
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Through Sept. 3 only, you can get Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for £34.92. There's more than one way to upgrade your computer . You could drop some cash on a hardware upgrade, or you could go for something that changes how you use your computer. To that end, this all-in-one Microsoft bundle comes with Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows. Both licenses l


How to unblock X for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Unblock X from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to unblock sites/apps is ExpressVPN . There has been a lot of talk about X, formerly known as Twitter, potentially being banned in Brazil . That would be mildly annoying for all the X users in that country. We say "mildly," because there is an easy fix if this actually becomes an issue. If you'


How to unblock Twitch for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Unblock Twitch from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking Twitch is ExpressVPN . Twitch is probably not banned in your location, but imagine for a second that you're traveling to a place without access. That's a scary thought, but there is a quick fix to sort this problem. VPNs can be used to secure access to Twitch from anywhere in the world, and you don't need


How to unblock XVideos for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Unblock XVideos from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN . A lot of locations restrict your access to porn sites like XVideos, which is fair enough. But there are occasions when you simply want to spend some time in your own company with your favorite sites, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's a time and a place for everything


How to watch West Ham vs. Manchester City online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream West Ham vs. Manchester City in the Premier League for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo . Access Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The Premier League is up and running, and Manchester City are already looking like the team to beat once again. The defending champions find themselves at the top of the table after two games, and will hope to secure another win a


How to watch Arsenal vs. Brighton online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Brighton in the Premier League for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo . Access Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The Premier League consistently delivers entertaining games involving some of the best players in the world, and we're expecting more of the same this weekend. Everything starts with a interesting game between Arsenal and Brighton, as bot


How to watch Argentina vs. Australia in the 2024 Rugby Championship online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Argentina vs. Australia in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+ . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The Rugby Championship is a demanding competition, because there really aren't any easy games. Just ask Australia, fresh from two defeats against a very strong South Africa side. The Wallabies will be hoping to secure their f


How to watch South Africa vs. New Zealand in the 2024 Rugby Championship online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream South Africa vs. New Zealand in the 2024 Rugby Championship for free on NZR+ . Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . There are no easy games in the Rugby Championship . In fact, most games are absolute battles between the best of the best. That's what we're expecting from South Africa vs. New Zealand, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup fin


Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Saturday, August 31, 2024
LifeHacker / 2h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for August 31, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is medium difficult; I got it in four. Beware, there are spoilers below for August 31, Wordle #1,169! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on the New York Time


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 31
Mashable / 2h
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the e


Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 31
Mashable / 3h
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle . As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 30's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. SEE ALSO: Mahjong


'Maria' review: Angelina Jolie sets an opera biopic ablaze


Mashable / 5h
Following Spencer and Jackie — biopic melodramas about Princess Diana and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy — Chilean director Pablo Larraín rounds out his informal trilogy with Maria , another film about a world-famous woman in close proximity to death. His subject this time is the iconic Greek-American opera soprano Maria Callas, and though the film doesn't come together as neatly (or completely) a


When is the best time to book a cruise?
The Points Guy / 6h
The best time to book a cruise is when you’ve done your planning, picked a ship and found a cruise fare that fits your budget and offers good value. But that doesn’t stop vacationers from wondering if they’d find a cheaper price if they wait to book tomorrow, next week or next month. I’d love to give you a magic date to circle in red on your calendar so you’d know for sure that was the best time


X is About to Be Blocked in Brazil
LifeHacker / 7h
Brazilian readers might soon have some difficulty finding this story, at least if they rely on Elon Musk's X for their news. That's because a judge has officially ordered a ban on the social media platform in the country, following a months-long battle over the limits of speech on the the site formerly known as Twitter. Conflict between X and the Brazilian government kicked off in April, when Mus


Telegram: 'The dark web in your pocket'
58BBC News / 7h
The arrest of Telegram’s chief executive in France has ignited a debate about moderation on his app.


NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Saturday, August 31 (game #447)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues. What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers , Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Saturday, August 31 (game #181)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read


Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, August 31 (game #950)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles. S PO


Brazil bans X for refusing to comply with Supreme Court order
34Engadget / 7h
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the nation’s internet service providers to block the social media platform X. The New York Times reports that the order stems from owner Elon Musk’s refusal to appoint a legal representative for his case and comply with Moraes’ order to shut down X accounts he deemed as harmful to the democratic process. The order has been published


Oprah, Sam Altman, and MKBHD walk into a TV show about AI and it's not a joke
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Oprah Winfrey is taking her signature interview style to the world of AI and bringing some of the biggest names in tech and policy with her for a new TV special. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Bill Gates, former CEO of Microsoft, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and more are all set to appear to discuss and demonstrate AI with Winfrey. “AI and the Future of Us” will air on ABC on September 12 at 8 p.m. ET


Agatha All Along’s latest teaser hints at one character’s true identity
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Kathryn Hahn reprises her WandaVision role as Agatha Harkness in the spinoff series Agatha All Along . Disney introduced the poster and first full trailer for Agatha All Along during its annual D23 Expo earlier this month. And now Marvel Studios has dropped a one-minute teaser that has fans wildly speculating about the possible true identity of one character in particular, who might just be a fut


OpenAI Names Political Veteran Chris Lehane as Head of Global Policy
NYT > Technology / 7h
The prominent A.I. start-up is also considering a change to its corporate structure to make it more appealing to outside investors.


Everything That Should Be on Your ‘Fall Cleaning’ Checklist
LifeHacker / 8h
The changing of the seasons is always a good time to clean. While quarterly tidying-up is generally advisable, some tasks are best done at specific times during the year . As fall looms, here are the things you need to clean and organize inside your house. First, declutter your summer essentials As you prepare to put away everything you used in the previous season, you can take stock of what you


Laurence Fishburne Is a Sci-Fi Nerd Just Like You
100+Gizmodo / 8h
You might've already guessed by looking at the veteran actor's career choices—but he loves sci-fi, and has since he was a kid.


Elon Musk's X is now banned in Brazil
Mashable / 8h
Brazil just gave Elon Musk's X the boot. On Friday, Brazil's top court ordered that Musk's social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, be banned in the country. SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X is the 'home of social media piracy,' sports leagues say The move comes after Musk has feuded with Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has previously ordered that X remove content that s


A new leak might have revealed the top-tier GPU in the RDNA 4 line will be the AMD RX 8700 XT
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Another day in the tech world with even more rumors to show for it, and this new batch regarding the oft-discussed AMD RDNA 4 is quite delicious if proven to be true. It seems that, according to a brand new leak delivered to us by well-known hardware leaker Golden Pig Upgrade (reported by VideoCardz ), the top model for the Radeon RX 8000-series GPUs appears to be the RX 8700 XT. The leaker also


Summer Ain’t Over Yet: This Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill and Smoker Is 20% off for Labor Day
Gizmodo / 9h
Save 20% on a 7-in-1 Ninja Woodfire master grill and smoker for your next tailgate.


7 Ways I Use ChatGPT For Language Learning As a Non-Native
87How-To Geek / 9h
I've used many resources for language-learning purposes throughout the years. Books, blogs, newspapers, videos, speaking practice with friends, etc. But AI tools like ChatGPT have changed the game by bringing an all-in-one solution. Here's how I use ChatGPT to improve my English as a non-native.


This App Quickly Shrinks Any Image Without Reducing Quality
LifeHacker / 9h
Running low on hard drive or cloud storage space? Your images might be taking up space they don't need. A free Mac app called ImageOptim , which I found on App Addict , can quickly reduce the file of any image file without any loss in quality. There's also a web version for anyone without a Mac. Using ImageOptim couldn't be easier: Just drag images to the interface and watch them get smaller. Cre


Woman Disgusted When She Uses Tracker to See Where Her Plastic Recycling Really Ends Up
42Futurism / 9h
Handy Device An environmentalist put a GPS tracker in with her recycling to see where it ended up — and the results were not confidence-inspiring. As Inside Climate News reports in an investigative collaboration with CBS , Houston activist and avid recycler Brandy Deason tossed an Apple Tag in with her bagged plastic waste to take to one of the city's new recycling drop-off sites to see what real


Fend Off Your Home From Dust and Debris With a Shark Robot Vacuum — $220 off for Labor Day
Gizmodo / 9h
Shark has both a robot vacuum & mop combo and a cordless stick vacuum heavily discounted for Labor Day weekend.


Stop Doomscrolling on Your 7″ Phone and Start Doomscrolling on a 10.2″ iPad! On Sale as Low as $200 for Labor Day!
Gizmodo / 9h
Both the 64GB and the 256GB 9th generation iPad are on sale for 39% off


Brazil Blocks X After Musk Ignores Court Orders
500+NYT > Technology / 9h
The social network began to go dark in the nation of 200 million, the result of an escalating fight between Elon Musk and a Brazilian judge over what can be said online.


3-Hour Flight Horror: Crying Toddler Locked In Lavatory As Passengers Demand Silence
View from the Wing / 9h
Passengers on a flight from Guiyang to Shanghai this past Saturday locked a crying toddler in an airplane lavatory in order to quiet her. The toddler, who appeared to be about one year old, was traveling with her grandparents and had been in tears non-stop throughout the nearly three-hour flight. Continue reading ...


Top court orders ban on Elon Musk’s X in Brazil
59TechCrunch / 9h
A top court in Brazil ordered an immediate, country-wide suspension of the X platform on Friday after a months-long legal battle with Elon Musk’s social media company over content moderation, according to Bloomberg. The court added that anyone using VPN to access the X platform would be subject to daily fines of 50,000 reais […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Labor Day Deals at Amazon: AirPods Prices So Low, Apple Might Be Concerned
Gizmodo / 9h
Amazon's Labor Day sale features remarkable discounts on AirPods, including the AirPods Pro, AirPods Max and AirPods (2nd Generation).


Investors are already valuing OpenAI at over $100B on the secondaries market
32TechCrunch / 9h
OpenAI is in talks to raise a new round of funding at an eye-popping $100 billion-plus valuation, sources told The Wall Street Journal this week. It turns out investors have already proven they are willing to value the company that high to get on OpenAI’s coveted cap table. Multiple companies that track or facilitate secondaries […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Google's Circle to Search Can Auto Scan Your QR Codes
33How-To Geek / 9h
Google has recently introduced a new feature to its Circle to Search functionality: automatic barcode and QR code scanning. This update is now available on some Pixel and Galaxy devices, but having Circle to Scan does not guarantee it's on your device.


Judge denies Media Matters’ motion to dismiss X’s not-libel lawsuit
Engadget / 9h
A Texas judge denied Media Matters for America’s request for a dismissal on Thursday allowing X’s lawsuit over alleged anti-semitic and racist content. The Verge reported that Northern District of Texas Judge Reed O’Connor dismissed the request for a dismissal paving the way for X’s lawsuit against Media Matters to continue. Media Matters submitted its dismissal request in early March on the grou


City of Columbus sues man after he discloses severity of ransomware attack
43Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images ) A judge in Ohio has issued a temporary restraining order against a security researcher who presented evidence that a recent ransomware attack on the city of Columbus scooped up reams of sensitive personal information, contradicting claims made by city officials. The order, issued by a judge in Ohio's Franklin County, came after the city of Columbus fell victim to a


Here We Go Again: Elon Musk Reportedly Plans to Unveil Tesla Robotaxi at Warner Bros. Studios Lot
38Gizmodo / 9h
Is it smart for Warner Bros. to associate with an extreme political figure like Musk?


Musk's X banned in Brazil after disinformation row
1KBBC News / 10h
The social media giant says it refused to comply with a judge's order to appoint a legal representative.


These States Have the Most UFO Sightings
Gizmodo / 10h
From Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, Americans are seeing weird lights in the sky. But which state gets the most action?


For Soft, Spreadable Butter Every Time, You Need a Butter Bell
LifeHacker / 10h
You know the story: The day is new and full of hope. You go to butter a slice of toast, only to crush and mutilate it with a fridge-cold slice of fat. Destroyed. Just like your dreams. We’ve suffered too long and there’s absolutely no need for it. There’s a special device out there with the sole purpose of keeping your butter perfectly spreadable: the butter bell. What is a butter bell? The butte


My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: Sonos Ray Soundbar
LifeHacker / 10h
One of the easiest most affordable ways to take your binge-watching setup to the next level is by getting a soundbar , especially if you struggle understanding dialogue . If you shop right, you can get a very good one for under $200. Sonos, one of the best audio brands out there, has one soundbar in particular (the Sonos Ray ), which is currently at its lowest price ever of $179 (originally $279)


Fitbits Ace Pass Subscription Is 50% OffBut Not For Long
How-To Geek / 10h
We liked the Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch a lot when it first came outit's perfect for your kids, but the Pass subscription might be too pricey for some. Now, though, you can save a lot of money on the LTE subscription.


Alaska Mileage Plan Account Hacked, Miles Stolen
40One Mile at a Time / 10h
Frequent flyer programs deal with an incredible amount of fraud , and that comes in many forms. Well, for the first time ever, I’ve dealt firsthand with miles being stolen (or more accurately, Ford’s miles being stolen). Fraud on Alaska Mileage Plan account This morning, Ford received an email from AlaskaRevenueProtection@alaskaair.com, with the subject line “Please call regarding your Alaska Air


Hypocrite Elon Musk Attacks Voting by Mail, But Records Show He's Done It Himself
300+Futurism / 10h
Busted! This just in: Elon Musk is a hypocrite. The tech billionaire has frequently railed against voting by mail this year, calling it "insane," and framing it as a gateway to widespread fraud. But it turns out that Musk has voted by mail at least twice while he lived in California, NBC News reports — just one of many examples of Musk's two-facedness . According to documents obtained through a p


Can Software Beat Hardware? - OnePlus 12 vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro
How-To Geek / 10h
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a brilliant smartphone with many useful AI features, but can the OnePlus 12's sheer hardware beat it? Find out in this Google Pixel 8 Pro Vs. OnePlus 12 head to head.


Lobbying Intensifies As DOT Considers Tough Conditions On Alaska-Hawaiian Merger
View from the Wing / 10h
With DOT still to approve the deal, the opportunity for parties to get their wish lists in appears to be now. Approval so far has been helped by Hawaii's supportive politicians. In exchange, Alaska has offered promises about what their stewardship of the brand and its routes will look like. It seems reasonable to expect some of those promises will be written into binding commitments by the federa


Why Reflections are One of the Best Tricks in Video Games (and How That's Changing)
How-To Geek / 10h
In the real world, mirrors and shiny surfaces reflect the world around them, but video games aren't the real world, and so developers have to figure out how to make reflections work to add depth, atmosphere, and realism to the world. The ways they done this over the years have changed, and today we're closer to mimicking reality than ever.


A Fourth Game of Thrones Spin-Off Is Seemingly Still in the Works
62Gizmodo / 10h
With Ten Thousand Ships a big "maybe," A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms coming soon, and more House of the Dragon on the horizon, HBO may be still be extending its time in Westeros.


Harmful “nudify” websites used Google, Apple, and Discord sign-on systems
33Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Photo illustration by Jacqui VanLiew/WIRED; Getty Images ) Major technology companies, including Google, Apple, and Discord, have been enabling people to quickly sign up to harmful “undress” websites , which use AI to remove clothes from real photos to make victims appear to be “nude” without their consent. More than a dozen of these deepfake websites have been using login button


Boeing will try to fly its troubled Starliner capsule back to Earth next week
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / Boeing's Starliner spacecraft undocks from the International Space Station at the conclusion of an unpiloted test flight in May 2022. (credit: NASA) NASA and Boeing are proceeding with final preparations to undock the Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station next Friday, September 6, to head for landing at White Sands Space Harbor in southern New Mexico. Astronauts Butc


NASA makes a very tough decision in setting final Crew-9 assignments
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / Nick Hague, left, and Zena Cardman train inside a Crew Dragon spacecraft mock-up in November 2023. (credit: NASA) On Friday NASA publicly announced a decision that has roiled the top levels of the agency's human spaceflight program for several weeks. The space agency named the two crew members who will launch on a Crew Dragon mission set to lift off no earlier than September 24 to the I


Nonprofit scrubs illegal content from controversial AI training dataset
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Kirillm | iStock / Getty Images Plus ) After Stanford Internet Observatory researcher David Thiel found links to child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in an AI training dataset tainting image generators, the controversial dataset was immediately taken down in 2023. Now, the LAION (Large-scale Artificial Intelligence Open Network) team has released a scrubbed version of the LAION-5B


How to avoid the crowds while traveling in Japan
The Points Guy / 11h
Six decades after hosting the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics — when Japan rapidly rolled out new infrastructure like its Shinkansen bullet train and accommodations like Hotel New Otani Tokyo to welcome the anticipated influx of foreigners — the country remains one of the most beloved leisure destinations in the world. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 17.78 million foreign visitor


The Creators of 'Industry' Know Banking Is a Rigged Game
23Wired / 11h
The HBO drama about the Machiavellian world of high finance is an undeniable hit—and cocreators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay say “coke and boats” is just the beginning.


How I Finally Organized My Closet With a Digital Inventory System
LifeHacker / 11h
I'm about to recommend something that sounds like a lot of work. In fairness, it is a lot of work, but I want you to hear me out: You should make an actual inventory of your closet. There are a lot of great techniques out there for organizing a closet (or cabinet , drawer , room , or any other space), but they almost all rely on a few principles that can make finding your stuff in your newly arra


How to Stay Prepared and Informed for Extreme Weather
Gizmodo / 11h
How to pack a go-bag, get emergency alerts, and find disaster aid.


Iranian hackers work with ransomware gangs to break into companies via VPN and firewall tools
4 TTPs•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Firewalls and VPNs are being used as a point of entry for Iranian state-sponsored hackers, tracked as Pioneer Kitten, looking to gain access to American schools, banks, hospitals, defense sector firms, and government agencies. The attackers are gaining access through vulnerable devices from Check Point, Citrix, and Palo Alto Networks, according to a joint statement released by the Federal Bureau


Elon Musk Rages as Brazil Freezes Starlink’s Assets
300+Futurism / 11h
Feud State Elon Musk is once again playing with political fire amid his ongoing feud with a Brazilian Supreme Court judge — and for once, the brash billionaire may be in the right. Though the fight that could, as CNBC and other outlets report , lead to the suspension of X-formerly-Twitter in Brazil has escalated dramatically this past week, the roots of Musk's spat with federal judge Alexandre de


Carta’s ill-fated secondaries business finally found a buyer
34TechCrunch / 11h
Stock-trading startup Public has acquired the brokerage accounts of Carta’s secondaries business, TechCrunch has confirmed. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Hypersonic drones by 2026-2027
Next Big Future / 11h
Startup Hermeus is developing hypersonic propulsion system for their Quarterhorse and Darkhorse vehicles. This could be achieving mach 5 speeds in 2026 to 2027. Quarterhorse Development Timeline: Mk 1: The first flyable version of Quarterhorse, Mk 1, is set for flight tests later in 2024. These tests will focus on high-speed takeoffs and landings Mk ... Read more


Google is rolling out more election-related safeguards in YouTube, search and AI
Engadget / 11h
As the US speeds toward one of the most consequential elections in its 248-year history, Google is rolling out safeguards to ensure users get reliable information. In addition to the measures it announced late last year, the company said on Friday that it’s adding election-related guardrails to YouTube, Search, Google Play and AI products. YouTube will add information panels above the search resu


Looking for a Kindle alternative? This new super-thin rival has the Google Play Store for Android apps
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
If you prefer reading your literature on one of the best ereaders rather than on a tablet or using the original paperback, you’ve probably heard of Boox. The e-reader company has made a name for itself thanks to its slim, lightweight e-ink devices, and it’s just released a new addition to its lineup. The Boox Go 6 is the latest in the Go range, and it continues the company’s tradition of thin and


Amazon Is Reportedly Closer to Launching Paid Alexa
46Gizmodo / 11h
The "Remarkable" version of Amazon's digital assistant will tap into Anthropic's Claude AI.


Rings of Power‘s Ismael Cruz Cordova on That Surprising Loss
80Gizmodo / 11h
The man behind Arondir speaks to io9 about the surprisingly most tangible fallout of Rings of Power 's first season coming into season two.


Crypto Bros More Likely to Have Psychopathic Traits, Study Finds
64Gizmodo / 11h
A new peer-reviewed study claims that cryptocurrency enthusiasts are higher in "Dark Triad" traits than your average person.


How "Feature Creep" Is Ruining Software, Gadgets, and Video Games
73How-To Geek / 11h
Many modern tech products aim to fill as many needs as possible, whether it's smart fridges that play movies or browsers with built-in weather trackers. The idea of having all these "essential" functions in a single product seems convenient at first, but it often leads to a greater problem known as "feature creep."


No, the black Facebook app icon isn't a new logo. Here's why you're seeing it.
47Mashable / 11h
If you looked at the Facebook app on your phone today and saw that the colors had changed, you're not alone. Don't worry, though; you won't be stuck with it. Users on X reported the change early on Friday, noting that the Facebook app's logo on their mobile devices — typically a white F on a blue background — had changed to a blue F on a black background. Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may hav


Spotify calls out Apple for removing volume control for connected devices
Mashable / 11h
Spotify users on iPhone who listen to music and podcasts via Spotify Connect will have to take a few extra steps in order to control the volume on their audio devices — Spotify seems unhappy about it. According to Spotify , Apple has "discontinued" the technology that let Spotify users control their volume via the physical iPhone buttons when streaming to speakers, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and


A Judge Has Banned Elon Musk's X in Brazil
Wired / 11h
An ongoing legal row over accounts allegedly spreading disinformation has escalated between Elon Musk and Brazil’s top court.


Spotify Says Apple No Longer Allows for Physical Volume Controls on iPhone Connected Devices
56Gizmodo / 11h
Spotify says it's working with Apple on a solution, but for now you have to use a newly added volume slider on the app.


Comcast Xfinity customers can get a year of Perplexity Pro AI for free
Engadget / 11h
If you have an account with Comcast Xfinity, then you also have a year-long subscription to the Perplexity Pro AI answer engine. Perplexity announced the special deal on Threads . Perplexity Pro differs from the company's free option by allowing unlimited quick answers from a choice of AI models, including GPT-4o, Claude-3 and Sonar Large. Engadget hasn’t reviewed the service, but if you’re alrea


Congressman’s ‘Boycotting Israel’ Attack On Airline CEOs Is Deeply Flawed—The Crucial Facts He And His Critics Ignore
View from the Wing / 12h
Congressman Ritchie Torres has attacked the CEOs of United, Delta, and American for ‘effectively boycotting Israel’ with their flight suspensions, noting that the U.S. government has not concluded these flights are unsafe to operate and that El Al continues to fly. Continue reading ...


Redfin is already trying to defend against a new flat-fee real estate startup
27TechCrunch / 12h
Redfin is responding to a new startup that is hoping to upend the way people search for and buy homes by offering a flat-fee service. On August 29, TechCrunch reported that a startup called Landian had emerged from stealth to offer homebuyers a way to tour and make offers on homes through a flat-fee service, […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Diamond status: Which credit card should I use to buy an engagement ring?
The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. If you’re ready to pop the question, congratulations! But first, you’ll want to ask a different one: How will you actually pay for the ring? According to The Knot’s Jewelry and Engagement Study , the average engagement ring costs around $5,500. Understandably, you’ll want to maximize a big purchase like th


Midjourney is traveling into AI hardware territory – because that's apparently what you do
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Midjourney is famous for being among the better AI image generators, but now the company is looking to get into hardware, too. The company announced the shift in strategy on X (formerly Twitter) by soliciting people to apply to join the new team. There aren't a lot of details about what kind of hardware Midjourney is looking to build. In follow-up posts, Midjourney said it won't be a pendant and


AnandTech, mainstay of computer hardware reviews, closes after 27 years
20Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: AnandTech) Few '90s tech sites other than Ars Technica are still operating here in 2024, and today, there's one fewer. AnandTech, a staple of CPU and GPU news and reviews since 1997, will stop publishing today, according to an announcement from Editor-in-Chief Ryan Smith. "For better or worse, we’ve reached the end of a long journey—one that started with a review of an AMD proces


NASA’s Solar Sail Mission Is Finally Flying After Deployment Glitch
90Gizmodo / 12h
The microwave-oven-sized cubesat unfurled its massive sail to test a novel way of traveling through space.


Gemini Can Now Answer Questions About Your Gmail Inbox on Android
LifeHacker / 12h
Back in June, Google announced Gemini's arrival to the side panel in Google Docs and Gmail for Workspace users. Among other things, the new feature lets you ask Gemini questions about your Gmail inbox. You can request information you know is within specific emails, like, "What are the projections for this quarter?" or "What is my client's phone number?" and Gemini should dive through your emails


AI-Generated Grimes Song Dissing Elon Musk Fools Newsweek
21Futurism / 12h
AI Like It A former Vine star has used Grimes' AI to diss her famous ex and highlight the pitfalls of the burgeoning technology. As Rolling Stone reports , rapper and influencer Elijah Daniel enlisted the help of Claire "Grimes" Boucher's Elf Tech AI to "feature" her on his new track "Nuisance" — and didn't tell anyone ahead of time that the voice in the teaser posted to TikTok was AI-generated.


China leads in up to 89% of tech research, study shows
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
New research from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) shows that China is now leading the way in 57 out of the 64 technologies assessed by its Critical Technology Tracker, which has now been updated to cover the last 20 years. The tracker measures a country’s performance based on the high-impact research it produces, specifically looking at the number of publications its institutions


I Tried My iPhone's Color Filters, Here Are My Favorites
100+How-To Geek / 12h
Color Filters are an iPhone accessibility feature that can help users with vision problems or color blindness differentiate between colors. These filters can do a lot of things: from changing your phone's display to black and white to emphasizing a group of colors (or even muting some). Here are my favorites.


'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast on the return of Sauron in Season 2
Mashable / 12h
Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Charles Edwards, Benjamin Walker, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Daniel Weyman, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sam Hazeldine are joined by Showrunner Patrick McKay and Executive Producer Lindsey Webber


Major Atlassian flaw hacks systems for crypto mining
12 TTPs•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Confluence Server used to carry a maximum severity vulnerability that allowed threat actors to remotely run any malicious code. Despite the fix being available for months now, there are many unprotected endpoints out there. As a result, hackers have been observed installing cryptocurrency miners on these devices, raking up huge electricity bills to the victims


Add a Vizio Smart TV to Your Kitchen or Garage for as Low as $120 With This Labor Day Deal
Gizmodo / 12h
Vizio has several, already affordable smart TVs for even cheaper this Labor Day weekend over at Target.


September’s Lego Releases Take Us to Hyrule and Halloween Town
Gizmodo / 12h
What's this, what's this? It's dangerous to go alone, take this!


Apple stands by decision to terminate account belonging to WWDC student winner
56TechCrunch / 12h
Apple moved to terminate the Appstun developer account after multiple rejections of its app that Apple says violates its App Store guidelines. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


JetBlue Slashes Washington National Flights By Over 25%
53One Mile at a Time / 12h
I’m not sure whether to be surprised by some of these cuts, or be impressed by the discipline that JetBlue’s management team is currently showing. JetBlue cuts seven daily flights at Washington DCA JetBlue has had a rough several years, and if you ask me, that largely comes down to lack of discipline and focus on the part of the company’s management team. JetBlue has been all over the place, and


Amazon Slashes Prices on Trending LEGO Sets: Enjoy Up to 40% Off Your Favorite Builds
Gizmodo / 12h
Amazon is offering incredible Labor Day discounts on trending LEGO sets, with savings of up to 40% on popular collections like LEGO Star Wars, making it the perfect time for fans to expand their collections.


Airbnb and fashion app By Rotation partner for free destination wedding outfits
34TechCrunch / 12h
By Rotation has a partnership with Airbnb to let those who’ve booked an Airbnb receive a complimentary outfit rental. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Path to Fast Solar Sails
Next Big Future / 12h
We need to make bigger solar sails from materials that can take high temperatures. Taking high temperatures means the solar sails could fly closer to the sun. If we got four times closer to the sun than Mercury (9 million miles or so )then we could go 20AU per year which is about 3 times ... Read more


NASA Extended a Solar Sail in Orbit on August 29, 2024
Next Big Future / 12h
NASA plans to build larger solar sails that can generate more thrust. A new unique composite carbon fiber booms, the ACS3 system has the potential to support sails as large as 2,000 square meters, or about 21,500 square feet, or about half the area of a soccer field. The ACS3 system has been in low ... Read more


The org behind the dataset used to train Stable Diffusion claims it has removed CSAM
38TechCrunch / 12h
LAION, the German research org that created the data used to train Stable Diffusion, among other generative AI models, has released a new dataset that it claims has been “thoroughly cleaned of known links to suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM).” The new dataset, Re-LAION-5B, is actually a