@PacoPu

Axios
1 year ago
Artificial intelligence

AI rockets ahead in vacuum of U.S. regulation

State of play: "It's a patchwork system [of AI regulation] in the United States," with some laws around transparency and preventing discrimination from AI on the state level but only early moves at the federal level, Jessica Newman, who leads the AI Security Initiative at the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity, told Axios.
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"I still think there's a long way to go and I would love to see federal AI regulation that is more comprehensive," Newman said.
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Driving the news: This week, the National Institutes for Science and Technology, part of the Department of Commerce, put out a long-awaited AI framework, meant to give companies guidance on using, designing or deploying AI systems.
www.nytimes.com
1 year ago
Tech industry

A New Area of A.I. Booms, Even Amid the Tech Gloom

The lab is in talks to complete a deal that would value it at around $29 billion, more than twice its valuation in 2021, two people with knowledge of the discussions said.
The potential deal where OpenAI would sell existing company shares in a so-called tender offer could total $300 million, depending on how many employees agree to sell their stock, they said.
The company is also in discussions with Microsoft which invested $1 billion in it in 2019 for additional funds, two people said.
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No area has created more excitement than generative artificial intelligence, the term for technology that can generate text, images, sounds and other media in response to short prompts.
Investors, pundits and journalists have talked up artificial intelligence for years, but the new wave the result of more than a decade of research represents a more powerful and more mature breed of A.I.
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Ultimately, it could provide a new way of interacting with almost any software, letting people chat with computers and other devices as if they were chatting with another person.
www.standard.co.uk
1 year ago
London

Warning that London risks becoming exclusive enclave of elites'

London's mix of high performing schools, aspirational communities, and world leading industries have long been ideal conditions for social mobility, but this is under threat, warned Lee Elliot Major, Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter.
This is partly due to escalating rents, socially segregated schools and the rise of elite unpaid internships, he said.
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He said it is possible for areas of high social mobility such as London to transform into exclusive and stagnant communities if high performing schools become middle class enclaves and inequality in earnings balloons.
East Bay Times
1 year ago
San Francisco 49ers

Kurtenbach: Collision theory - Can the 49ers balance physicality, longevity with Lance, Deebo?

At some point, you got to impose your will on people."
But how does head coach and offensive play-caller Kyle Shanahan balance that imposition with the need to keep the team's top players - specifically Samuel and Lance - healthy and available for the full 17-game season?
Super helpful summary.
Nytimes
1 year ago
Tech industry

Can 'the Merge' Save Crypto?

Ethereum, the most popular crypto platform, appears to have successfully upgraded its software architecture from a type of blockchain known as "proof of work," which it has run since its inception in 2015, to a type of blockchain known as "proof of stake."
This upgrade, which came to be called, simply, "the merge," is already being heralded as a watershed moment in the history of crypto.
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Ethereum used to be secured by a network of high-powered computers that competed against each other to solve cryptographic puzzles, burning vast amounts of energy in the process.Now, it will be secured by a process known as "staking," which involves investors agreeing to deposit their crypto coins in a shared pool in exchange for a chance to earn financial rewards.
There are other benefits to the merge - it's expected to make Ethereum faster and more efficient in the long run - but the environmental footprint is the big, immediate improvement.
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The new Ethereum blockchain will still burn Ether, but it won't need to create as much new Ether to pay out rewards to participants.That means that the overall supply of Ether could shrink, increasing the value of existing coins.
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These regulators are worried about stablecoins, Ponzi schemes, state-sponsored ransomware attacks and investors losing their money to opaque crypto-lending schemes.
The merge doesn't address any of that.
@eric_seufert
1 year ago
Marketing tech

Yes, programmatic advertising creates a privacy...

Yes, programmatic advertising creates a privacy liability, but it can be rectified with focused remedies that wont devitalize the internet economy, vs “banning surveillance capitalism.”
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2/ An instructive thought experiment: if we know someone was convicted of a crime via smartphone-scoped data, is it more likely that 1) the data was aggregated via the advertising bidstream, or 2) police simply confiscated the phone and looked through it?
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McCovey Chronicles
1 year ago
San Francisco Giants

SF Giants News: Zaidi would like to see Pederson and Rodon back in 2023

Per a piece from Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, Farhan Zaidi recently said that an extension for Pederson is possible within the next few weeks.He also said that the Giants would really like to see Rodón return as well, but they are aware of the reality of the situation, but said that they would love to see him back.
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But we'll see if Rodón has better luck, as he has expressed interest in returning as well.
The Berlin Spectator
1 year ago
Germany news

Germany: Government Changes Social Welfare System, Increases Amounts

Berlin, September 15th, 2022 (The Berlin Spectator) - Germans who were employed and paid their public unemployment insurance for at least a year will receive unemployment benefits.They can expect 60 to 67 percent of their former salary for up to two years.If they do not manage to find a job, they will fall back into social welfare.
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The federal government wants to call it 'Bürgergeld' ('Citizen's Money').
AnyChart News
1 year ago
JavaScript

Making Line Chart - and Step Line Chart - in JavaScript

You can follow along with this tutorial to learn how to quickly create beautiful interactive line (and step-line) charts using JavaScript.We'll look at some cool examples and build them step by step, which will make the process both clear and entertaining.
Not super encouraging ...
Dodgers Nation
1 year ago
LA Dodgers

Tony Gonsolin Comes Out of Latest Rehab Step with So-So Results

Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin has been on the injured list for about two weeks, and the original hope was that he would have returned over the weekend in San Diego.Multiple setbacks have prevented that from happening, and we're now at the point where everyone is just hoping Gonsolin can get healthy in time for the postseason.
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... I wouldn't say it hurts, but he just doesn't feel as strong as he feels he should be or as he has been in the past."
Those aren't the words we were hoping to hear Roberts say, of course.
NESN.com
1 year ago
Boston Bruins

How Does Bruce Cassidy Feel About Jake DeBrusk Rescinding Bruins Trade Request?

"I think the thing that worked out with Jake is he switched to play the right wing and that really helped him get more ice time and play with higher-end players.So that was a good thing for him to be amenable to that switch.
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Cassidy knows DeBrusk has the potential to be a great player in the NHL and wonders if a new voice such as Jim Montgomery will elevate him to the next level.
CaughtOffside
1 year ago
Soccer (FIFA)

Qatar relax rules on drinking beer at 2022 FIFA World Cup

There had been concerns about a major clash of cultures at this tournament, but it seems there will now be the possibility for fans to buy beer, but only after 6.30pm.
A statement from FIFA on Saturday read: "Inside the stadium bowl ticket holders will have access to non-alcoholic Budweiser Zero.At the FIFA Fan Festival, Budweiser will be available to purchase from 6.30 p.m."
Interesting .. the Meta statement appears to acknowledge the non-compliance ... 'these issues were fixed over a year ago' ... yeah, but ... it was still a violation.
the Guardian
1 year ago
Privacy professionals

Instagram owner Meta fined 405m over handling of teens' data

Instagram owner Meta has been fined €405m (£349m) by the Irish data watchdog for letting teenagers set up accounts that publicly displayed their phone numbers and email addresses.
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Instagram had allowed users aged between 13 and 17 to operate business accounts on the platform, which showed the users' phone numbers and email addresses.The DPC also found the platform had operated a user registration system whereby the accounts of 13-to-17-year-old users were set to "public" by default.
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"GDPR has special provisions to make sure any service which targets children are living up to a high standard of transparency.Instagram fell foul of this when accounts of children were set to open by default rather than private."
the Guardian
1 year ago
Europe politics

'Nothing is decided': EU energy ministers clash over plan for price cap on Russian gas

Speaking after emergency talks in Brussels in response to surging gas and electricity prices, the EU's energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, said "nothing is decided" on proposals to curb Russia's income.
Vladimir Putin has dismissed the idea as "stupid" and threatened to make Europe "freeze" this winter, if a cap is agreed.Russia has already slashed supplies to Europe and said it will not resume flows at previous volumes until the EU lifts sanctions.Russian supply makes up only 9% of EU gas imports, down from 40% before the invasion of Ukraine.
Boston.com
1 year ago
New England Patriots

Patriots players reportedly want Kendrick Bourne to get more playing time

If the Patriots regret their decision to bench Kendrick Bourne until the fourth quarter in their season-opener on Sunday, Bill Belichick - predictably - was not going to say anything about it.
"We did what we thought was best," Belichick said shortly.
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When Bourne finally entered the game, he made an immediate impact - snagging a 41-yard reception on his first (and only) target of the day and just his second play from scrimmage.
Or maybe Giant's fans can hope that this is all a ruse ... he's an embedded mole, preparing to sabotage a postseason run ...
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Dodgers Nation
1 year ago
LA Dodgers

Truth About Freddie Freeman, His Agent and Braves Contract Talks

Remember when Dodger fans were worried about Freeman's commitment to the team, or when reports circled that Freeman would've accepted an offer from that Braves had he known about it?
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Gottlieb painted the picture of a strained relationship between Close and Freeman after Freddie was rumored to have learned of a contract offer from the Braves that was never relayed to the 2020 NL MVP.
The radio personality issued a statement on Wednesday where he backtracked on his reports and apologized to Close and his agency.
"While I always strive to report accurate information, I prematurely reported on these events and simply got it wrong."
Medium
1 year ago
UX design

Cognitive walkthrough vs. heuristic evaluation vs. usability testing; Stop confusing these methods

This short article explains these in a nutshell, and I summarized their differences in a table!
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These terms sound a little bit advanced, but they are basic concepts.
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Cognitive walkthrough

Heuristic evaluation

Usability test

Entrepreneur
1 year ago
Marketing

The Best Software Solutions and Tech Providers in the Franchising Industry

Entrepreneur has announced its annual Top Franchise Supplier rankings, a multi-faceted directory which includes the best of the best service providers in the industry.
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1. Hubspot

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2. serviceminder.io

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6. Zoho

Medium
1 year ago
UX design

UX Design Portfolio Tips and Inspiration

Many emerging UX designers from UX Academy go on to land amazing UX jobs - from junior to senior level - from portfolios that "only" consist of student projects.
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It's so important, in fact, that applications can be moved forward or ignored based on a quick glance through the portfolio.
The Independent
1 year ago
UK news

Woman returned to Benjamin Mendy's mansion after alleged rape, court hears

A month earlier the woman, aged 19 at the time, said she was raped by Mendy after visiting the same club, China White, and returning to his home in Mottram St Andrew, near Prestbury.
After spending time in the swimming pool, she went to a top floor bedroom to sleep and said she was awoken by Mendy raping her in the early hours of July 24, last year.
Under cross-examination, Eleanor Laws QC, defending Mendy, asked the woman: "You find it difficult to explain why you went back, not once, 10 times to a house you say you were raped in?
She replied: "I tried to block this out of my mind and forget about it."
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Mendy denies the rape, along with the rape of two other young women over the same 24-hour period at his home.
He also denies five other counts of rape, one attempted rape and a sexual assault, all relating to seven young women, between October 2018 and August last year.
His co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, 41, of Eccles, Salford, denies eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault, relating to eight young women.
ESPN.com
1 year ago
San Francisco 49ers

Niners' Kittle (groin) misses practice, 'day to day'

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle did not practice Wednesday because of a groin injury, leaving his status up in the air for Sunday's season opener against the Chicago Bears.
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"I'm not sure (the extent of the injury)," Shanahan said Wednesday.
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He did it a little bit on Monday and not feeling good today so we'll have to see day by day."
Defector
1 year ago
San Francisco 49ers

Why Your Team Sucks 2022: San Francisco 49ers | Defector

This is the weirdest goddamn team in football.They made the Super Bowl in 2019, watched everyone get injured the following year, and then decided to spend the 2021 season borrowing liberally from both of those previous campaigns.
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Your coach: Kyle Shanahan, who is a brilliant playcaller until the final half of any given season.Kyle also puts more mental energy into hat regulations than winning important football games.
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The O-line lost interior stalwarts Laken Tomlinson and Alex Mack, and is now staffed by middle school JV players.
@LombardiHimself
1 year ago
San Francisco 49ers

Throwback in acknowledgment of Emmanuel Sanders...

Throwback in acknowledgment of Emmanuel Sanders' retirement: He'd been with 49ers only a few days when he connected with Jimmy Garoppolo on a blind route — a deep out at Arizona — in 2019.
Sanders' vet diligence on display. Helped push SF to a Super Bowl
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“We put that play in, I think, on Tuesday,” Kyle Shanahan said. “We just walked through this week, so that was our first full-speed rep at it. That was pretty impressive by both of them. We didn’t even know if that’s where the ball was going to go.”

@EUstaran
1 year ago
Privacy professionals

One of the increasingly obvious consequences of...

One of the increasingly obvious consequences of #Brexit for UK data protection lawyers & professionals is NOT that we have to de-learn 🇪🇺 data protection law, but that we have to learn how to bridge the emerging differences between 🇬🇧&🇪🇺 law. Mini🧵

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1️⃣Current laws (e.g. #GDPR) that exist under both geographies and that as time go by will start to look different and be interpreted in parallel ways.
2️⃣Entirely new laws (e.g. “Digital Strategy” package) reflecting own priorities.

The way in which existing laws evolve & develop in 🇪🇺&🇬🇧 will be relatively easy to track with the right resources but it will become more essential than ever to keep an eye on what is happening across:
What the hell does this mean? That the data are all over the map and we're free to pick and choose the bits that are best for us? Only 8% are concerned about it ... and 90% of consumers have taken active steps based on this absence of concern?
MarTech
1 year ago
Privacy professionals

Consumers aren't so worried about data misuse by advertisers

Nearly half of consumers are afraid their data will be misused for identity theft, while only 9% are concerned about advertisers misusing it, according to a report by performance marketing firm Tinuiti.Also, only 8% say they're most worried about products or websites they've viewed online being tracked.
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Even so, nine in 10 have taken some kind of proactive measure to protect it, with more than half having cleared browser cookies and turned off location tracking on mobile devices.
Default to 'no.' The law is on your side here.
kvue.com
1 year ago
Privacy professionals

No, police cannot force you to unlock your cellphone without a search warrant

I can't believe I have to say this, but DO NOT GIVE THE POLICE YOUR UNLOCKED PHONE.Ever.I don't care if you "have nothing to hide."
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No, the police can't require you to unlock your phone without a search warrant.
Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
1 year ago
Design

Someone managed to fit an entire Raspberry Pi computer inside the body of a cassette - Yanko Design

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Faced with a space constraint, Stuart chose the Raspberry Pi Zero W for the project."Cassette shells make for a great form factor," he said, "I started with a plain black spare cassette shell and used a small hand file and side cutters to remove the plastic supports in preparation for fitting the heatsink."
Does anyone else want to slap this headline in the face? Will Smith would be more useful over here.

@AngelaPerea @morkof
Axios
2 years ago
Women in technology

Where women earn more than men

Between the lines: The cities where women are getting ahead generally have plenty of jobs that require higher levels of education, says Marianne Cooper, a sociologist at Stanford who studies women and leadership.And women have been earning more college degrees than men for decades.
The big picture: This edge in pay likely won't last as these women grow older.
So which side is the 'overly political' then?
Nytimes
2 years ago
US politics

Democrats Rebel Against Pelosi Over Congressional Stock Trading

WASHINGTON - Facing stiff political headwinds and a flagging election-year agenda, the most vulnerable Democrats in Congress have found a way to distance themselves from their leaders: demanding an end to stock trading for all members of Congress, including senior lawmakers who oppose the move.
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On the Democratic side, the names parallel the party's list of endangered incumbents, many of whom rushed to sign on only after Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California had expressed her opposition.
No question this man deserves it. An absolute icon of the 80's.
McCovey Chronicles
2 years ago
San Francisco Giants

Giants announce date for Will Clark's jersey retirement

After a two-year postponement, the San Francisco Giants have announced a new date for Will Clark's jersey retirement: July 30, 2022.
The Giants had initially planned to retire Clark's jersey in 2020, but we all know what happened: the season got postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and when it restarted it was truncated and, crucially, lacking in-stadium fans.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
2 years ago
Privacy professionals

The U.K. Paid $724,000 For A Creepy Campaign To Convince People That Encryption is Bad. It Won't Work.

This week, the U.K. government launched an unprecedented and deceptive effort to kill off end-to-end encryption.They've hired a fancy ad agency to convince people that encrypted messages are dangerous to children.
The explicit goal of the "No Place to Hide" campaign, launched on Tuesday, is to prevent Facebook from expanding its use of end-to-end encryption.
We can't 'class' our way out of this.
www.cnn.com
2 years ago
Left-wing politics

Biden rediscovers his fighting spirit as he takes on Trump

Are we going to be a nation that lives not by the light of the truth, but in the shadow of lies?"
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The 16th President urged his nation in 1863 to rededicate itself, at a time when democracy was under existential threat, to the "unfinished work" of preserving government "of the people, for the people, by the people."
At the beginning of 2022, Biden -- who noted he was speaking from National Statuary Hall, where Lincoln sat at desk 191 when the space hosted the House of Representatives -- defined that same national quest as saving "the right to vote, the right to govern ourselves, the right to determine our own destiny."
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Showing a ruthlessness that has been absent from his leadership in recent months, he identified the spot where he could most wound Trump and repeatedly thrust a metaphorical sword.
Wonderful news!!! Now do wine ...
Nytimes
2 years ago
Wellness

The Health Benefits of Coffee

In fact, in numerous studies conducted throughout the world, consuming four or five eight-ounce cups of coffee (or about 400 milligrams of caffeine) a day has been associated with reduced death rates.In a study of more than 200,000 participants followed for up to 30 years, those who drank three to five cups of coffee a day, with or without caffeine, were 15 percent less likely to die early from all causes than were people who shunned coffee.Perhaps most dramatic was a 50 percent reduction in the risk of suicide among both men and women who were moderate coffee drinkers, perhaps by boosting production of brain chemicals that have antidepressant effects.
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