smerconish.com

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Refreshingly Independent Politics – smerconish.com is to create a clearinghouse for non-ideological thinking. We want to give people a chance to contribute to, and consume media that isn’t predicated on the usual, extreme talking points of the polarized media. Instead, we aim to promote independent thinking and diversity of thought.

Engadget

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Gadget news and reviews

Google prohibits ads promoting websites and apps that generate deepfake porn

4 May 2024 @ 1:00 pm

Google has updated its Inappropriate Content Policy to include language that expressly prohibits advertisers from promoting websites and services that generate deepfake pornography. While the company already has strong restrictions in place for ads that feature certain types of sexual content, this update leaves no doubt that promoting "synthetic content that has been altered or generated to be sexually explicit or contain nudity" is in violation of its rules.  Any advertiser promoting sites or apps that generate deepfake porn, that show instructions on how to create deepfake porn and that endorse or compare various deepfake porn services will be suspended without warning. They will no longer be able to publish their ads on Google, as well. The comp

X is using Grok to publish AI-generated news summaries

3 May 2024 @ 9:57 pm

X is using Grok to publish AI-generated summaries of news and other topics that trend on the platform. The feature, which is currently only available to premium subscribers, is called “Stories on X,” according to a post from the company’s engineering account. According to X, Grok relies on users’ posts to generate the text snippets. Some seem to be more news-focused, while others are summaries of conversations happening on the platform itself. One user posted a screenshot that showed stories abo

Nintendo blitzes GitHub with over 8,000 emulator-related DMCA takedowns

3 May 2024 @ 8:00 pm

Nintendo sent a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice for over 8,000 GitHub repositories hosting code from the Yuzu Switch emulator, which the Zelda maker previously described as enabling “piracy at a colossal scale.” The sweeping takedown comes two months after

Helldivers 2 PC players suddenly have to link to a PSN account and they're not being chill about it

3 May 2024 @ 6:58 pm

Linking to a random third-party account when you just want to play a video game you paid for is truly annoying and, honestly, keeps me from even launching certain games by certain publishers who shall remain nameless. Helldivers 2 players are experiencing this frustration right now, as the PC version of the massively popular third-person shooter will soon require a link to a PlayStation account. New players will be required to link both accounts on May 6, but pre-existing players have until June 4 before the requirement kicks in. Sony says that forcing people to link to a PSN account helps “protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behavior.” Ah, the popular “few bad apples” excuse. This was always the plan, according to publ

Redfall’s two DLC heroes are still MIA a year later

3 May 2024 @ 6:08 pm

As Microsoft tries to beef up its in-house Xbox studios, it may want to be more careful about leaving a trail of broken promises when things don’t go as planned. A year after the hyped vampire shooter Redfall landed with a thud, a Kotaku report highlights how players are still waiting for the advertised post-launch DLC they already paid for.

Instagram's 'Add Yours' sticker now lets you share songs

3 May 2024 @ 6:07 pm

Instagram just announced some new features coming to Stories, including a suite of interactive stickers. The music one is perhaps the most interesting, as it's an extension of the pre-existing Add Yours feature. The Add Yours Music sticker lets users share their favorite songs, along with a prompt for followers to get in on the fun by sharing their own related tracks. Of course, the song has to already be in Instagram’s music library to work. To that end, Instagram has partnered with Dua Lipa to promote her new album, Radical Optimism. Many of the songs from the album are available for use in this way, and the artist herself has been posting Stories with Add Your Music stickers.

Apex Legends is getting a solo mode for the first time in five years

3 May 2024 @ 5:00 pm

Apex Legends will soon offer a Solos mode for the first time since 2019, even though developer Respawn Entertainment said earlier this year it had no plans to let players run amok in the battle by themselves again. When the next season starts, Solos will replace the Duos mode for six weeks. The game is designed and tuned for squads of three, but Respawn recently told reporters that it "wanted to acknowledge the growing interest in Solos from our players," many of whom were looking for new ways to play the game. Running the mode for half of season 21 will give the developers a chance to gain plenty of feedback from players

A four-pack of Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 trackers is back on sale for $70

3 May 2024 @ 4:52 pm

We recommend Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 in our Bluetooth tracker buying guide to G

Research indicates that carbon dioxide removal plans will not be enough to meet Paris treaty goals

3 May 2024 @ 4:11 pm

New research conducted by the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests that current carbon removal plans will not be enough to comply with Paris treaty goals to limit global warming to 1.5C, as reported in a study published by Nature. S

Rabbit R1 review: A $199 AI toy that fails at almost everything

3 May 2024 @ 4:10 pm

I hate the Rabbit R1. It's yet another sign that standalone AI gadgets, like the Humane AI Pin, are fundamentally useless devices meant to attract hype and VC funding without benefitting users at all. It's like trying to build a skyscraper on quicksand: Today's AI models are great for parlor tricks, but they're ultimately untrustworthy. How do you create a device around that? The Rabbit R1's big selling point has been its "large action model," or LAM, which can supposedly understand what you say and get things done. But really, that's just marketing speak. At the moment, the R1 can barely do anything as an AI assistant. And the few tasks

gbnews.uk

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Just another UK mainstream news outlet? Reporting/repeating the mainstream narrative.

bywire.news

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Rating: 5.0/10 (2 votes cast)

The world’s first decentralised blockchain and democratic daily news platform with a mainstream bent.

NewsNow.co.uk

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Rating: 5.0/10 (2 votes cast)

News portal for all things news, complied from mainstream news sources (beware).

gizmag.com

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Rating: 5.0/10 (7 votes cast)

odd look at news on the web

Brain implants are becoming obsolete, like old phones. What happens next?

4 May 2024 @ 8:00 am

What happens to the implant in your brain when it becomes obsolete or its manufacturer goes bust?Huge advances in medical technology have led to increasingly advanced implanted neurological devices, such as deep brain, vagal nerve, and spinal cord stimulators. Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI), is one of the more well-known devices. China recently unveiled its own BCI implant, indicating that it’s quickly catching the US in the neurotechnological space.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags:

Copper coating turns touchscreens into bacteria killers

3 May 2024 @ 9:22 pm

The TANCS coating has been shown to kill 99.9% of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in just two hoursIf there's one thing that needs to be antibacterial, it's the public touchscreen displays that everyone paws at with their filthy fingers. Well, help is on the way, in the form of a newly developed copper coating.Continue ReadingCategory: Materials, ScienceTags: Antibacterial,

Video: Iron-shelled robo-snails swarm together for off-road tasks

3 May 2024 @ 7:43 pm

A swarm of the robo-snails work with one another to traverse a gapEven though snails are slow and slimy-bottomed, they've inspired a new type of robot that could be quite useful. Groups of these bots can operate independently or join together in order to perform tasks that would otherwise be impossible.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Chinese University

OpenAI's Sora makes its first official music video

3 May 2024 @ 4:26 pm

Director Paul Trillo has used Sora to create a four-minute music video for singer/songwriter Washed OutThough OpenAI is yet to make the Sora text-to-video model available to the public, its ability to produce realistic, high-resolution video clips already has movie makers worried for job security. Now the tool has moved into the world of pop music videos.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Open AI,

Wild orangutan engaged in never-before-seen wound-healing behavior

3 May 2024 @ 1:27 pm

This series of photos shows the wound progressively healing thanks to the animal's self-treatement with a medicinal plantFor the first time ever, a wild male orangutan in Sumatra has been spotted tending to a wound on his face in an ingenious way. The technique worked, adding even more cred to the intelligence of this striking and endangered species of great ape.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Orangutans,

Mirasol tiny house makes space for guests and good times

3 May 2024 @ 1:23 pm

The Mirasol is clad in red cedar, with aluminum accentingOne of the challenges of downsizing is that it's very awkward to have friends over. However, despite its compact size, Baluchon's latest model, the Mirasol, ensures its owner's social life won't suffer thanks to a guest sleeping area and a kitchen that opens onto an outdoor bar.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, LifestyleTags:

World's first CNG-powered motorcycle launches in June

3 May 2024 @ 1:12 pm

Baja Auto is reported to be launching the world's first CNG motorcycle in June (Bajaj RS200 model shown)Over the years, we've seen a number of suggested replacements for gasoline to fuel motorcycles – including steam, hydrogen, water and batteries. Now a moto maker is getting ready to launch what's billed as the world's first CNG motorcycle.Continue ReadingCategory: Motorcycles, TransportTags: G

$190,000 eVTOL deliveries begin July - no license required

3 May 2024 @ 9:33 am

The Pivotal Helix is a single-seat eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off & Landing) PAV (Personal Aerial Vehicle) with a range of 20+ miles (with 20% reserve) and a cruise speed 55 knots (63 mph). You can order now for July 2024 delivery, and no license is required, though you can't take delivery until you have completed the training.Personal flight is currently undergoing a renaissance thanks to the rapid advancement of so many requisite industrial technologies. The next phase of personal flight is poised to begin and the production version of this aircraft could well mark the occasion in history.Continue ReadingCate

Stressed? Study shows light shone on the head and belly helps

3 May 2024 @ 7:26 am

Applying low-intensity light to the head and gut simultaneously reduced the effects of chronic stressPhotobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive technique that uses low-intensity light from lasers or LEDs to produce a therapeutic effect. It’s been used to treat medical conditions as varied as heart disease and wounds. Transcranial PBM, using light on the head, has also shown promise in treating psychological disorders.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing,

'Genetic programs' allowed the ancestor of all plants to conquer dry land

3 May 2024 @ 7:00 am

The two strains of Zygnema obtained from the University of GöttingenThe first land plants burst forth from ancient algae onto the Earth about 550 million years ago. This one-off evolutionary event, known as plant terrestrialization, fundamentally changed the planet’s surface and atmosphere and made possible the development of all other terrestrial life – including humans.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Genome,

reuters.com

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Worldwide news from the source of news? Sometimes repeats it’s main stream message a little too much.

Buffett lauds Apple despite trimming stake, says Berkshire is in good hands - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 9:39 pm

Buffett lauds Apple despite trimming stake, says Berkshire is in good hands  Reuters

Liverpool questions becoming a drag for Slot - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 9:34 pm

Liverpool questions becoming a drag for Slot  Reuters

Trump vows to fight 'anti-white feeling' in the United States. His allies have a plan - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 9:31 pm

Trump vows to fight 'anti-white feeling' in the United States. His allies have a plan  Reuters

Israeli forces kill Hamas gunmen in overnight raid near West Bank's Tulkarm - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 9:26 pm

Israeli forces kill Hamas gunmen in overnight raid near West Bank's Tulkarm  Reuters

Dead bodies in Mexico most probably are missing U.S., Australian surfers - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 8:11 pm

Dead bodies in Mexico most probably are missing U.S., Australian surfers  Reuters

Bird flu threatens to put a damper on cow cuddling - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 5:54 pm

Bird flu threatens to put a damper on cow cuddling  Reuters

Warren Buffett's PacifiCorp utility singed by wildfires - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 5:34 pm

Warren Buffett's PacifiCorp utility singed by wildfires  Reuters

Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins Miami sprint race - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 4:58 pm

Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins Miami sprint race  Reuters

Real edge closer to LaLiga title with easy win over Cadiz - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 4:31 pm

Real edge closer to LaLiga title with easy win over Cadiz  Reuters

Cava producer Freixenet reaches deal with unions over drought measures - Reuters

4 May 2024 @ 3:56 pm

Cava producer Freixenet reaches deal with unions over drought measures  Reuters

freespoke.com

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Rating: 5.5/10 (2 votes cast)

A internet search engine with less censorship in mind.

theutopian.net

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Uplifting and positive alternative amongst online newspapers, bringing you articles for growth and change.

rt.com

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Russia’s (Putin’s) version of the BBC news, but with a heavy bias for Putin.

Commenting on the news articles is a nice feature, but sadly 99% in favour of the authors.

The origin of Russian bots.

The West has invented a magic phrase to hide its geopolitical games

4 May 2024 @ 9:24 pm

Preview The meaning of ‘civil society’ changes depending on whether Washington is speaking about protests inside or outside the American border Read Full Article at RT.com

Dozens dead in massive flooding in Brazil

4 May 2024 @ 8:42 pm

Preview Dozens of people have died and dozens more have been left injured in devastating flooding in southern Brazil Read Full Article at RT.com

Israel will not end war through hostage deal – media

4 May 2024 @ 8:30 pm

Preview The IDF plans to enter Rafah and destroy Hamas battalions there regardless of hostage negotiations, according to an Israeli source Read Full Article at RT.com

Georgia accuses Washington of trying to spark ‘two revolutions’

4 May 2024 @ 6:54 pm

Preview The US has sought to encourage “revolution attempts” in Georgia by inciting violence with its statements, prime minister Kobakhidze has said Read Full Article at RT.com

BRICS should be ready for dollar collapse – Russian IMF rep

4 May 2024 @ 6:54 pm

Preview Russian IMF rep Alexey Mozhin says countries of the BRICS group could create an alternative currency based on their national legal tenders Read Full Article at RT.com

WATCH Russian forces destroy US-made armor

4 May 2024 @ 5:02 pm

Preview Russia’s Defense Ministry has vowed to “keep striking” at the military hardware supplied to Kiev by Washington and its allies Read Full Article at RT.com

NATO using war games to ‘prepare for conflict’ – Moscow

4 May 2024 @ 4:59 pm

Preview NATO is holding its largest wargames in decades near the Russian border, the foreign ministry in Moscow has noted Read Full Article at RT.com

Italy publicly scolds Macron over Ukraine intervention talk

4 May 2024 @ 4:29 pm

Preview Italy’s defense minister has chastised French President Macron for fielding the idea of sending troops to aid Ukraine Read Full Article at RT.com

Israel comes up with post-war solution for Gaza – NYT

4 May 2024 @ 1:06 pm

Preview A power-sharing deal in Gaza could be agreed in exchange for a normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia, officials have told the NYT Read Full Article at RT.com

EU country to allow 15-year-olds get abortions without parental consent

4 May 2024 @ 12:43 pm

Preview Denmark will relax its abortion rules in order to reflect the country’s age of consent laws Read Full Article at RT.com