Politics
TechCrunch
llama3.2:1b
2 weeks ago
Sequoia Capital's Roelof Botha has warned founders about chasing sky-high valuations as the firm doubles down on its selective approach. The Trump administration's moves to take direct equity stakes in American companies, rather than as temporary crisis measures, have raised questions about what happens when the White House appears on a cap table. Botha said industrial policy has its place when national interests demand it and that other nation states are using this strategy to further their industries. Botha expressed discomfort with government as co-investor and warned that the market can be prone to valuation inflation, where a company's valuation increases rapidly but then falls back down. He advised founders not to raise capital if they don't need it for at least 12 months, instead opting to build their companies into strong positions that will be worth more in the long term. Botha also mentioned the "pilot program" in which Sequoia had debriefed a portfolio company whose valuation soared from $150 million to $6 billion in 12 months before crashing back down. Botha's concerns about the market have echoes of the pandemic-era funding circus, where investors and companies alike were willing to put money into ventures that did not yet exist. He warned founders that they should be cautious and avoid flying too hard, too fast, as this can lead to valuation inflation and decreased success in the long run.
Technology
TechCrunch
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
Technology expert Kevin Rose discusses his simple test for AI hardware, which involves wearing it to puncture someone in the face who's wearing it. He advises investors and VCs not to rush into AI hardware investments as they break down emotional resonance and social accceptability. Rose points out that even successful wearables lack emotional resonance and may harm others, while failing ones do not. The author emphasizes the need for investing in smart rings instead of failed ones, with emphasis on emotional resonance and social acceptability. He also discusses various AI wearables such as Humane AI pendants and other products that fail to live up to their promises.
Politics
Democracy Now!
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
Mass Killings Reported in Sudan as RSF Seizes El Fasher; 460 Killed at Hospital Headlines for October 31 Watch Read: - Israel Continue to Struggle with Gaza after Trump's ceasefire deal - Google and Amazon Violate Own Terms of Service in $1.2 Billion “Project NiMbus” Deal - Death Toll from Hurricane Melissa Rises to 49, Prince Andrew Struck off Royal Titles & Evicted from Royal Mansions; Trump Urges Republican Shutdown End; Trump Cuts Refugee Admissions to 7,500, Prioritizing White South African Immigrants - 404 Media: ICESearching Facilitative Recognition Technology to Identify Immigration Status; Dramatic Videsep Views ICE Agent Arrested Mother Driving Her Daughter to School - Judge Orders Border Patrol Commander Bovino Appears for Dep's Deposition; General Ordered National Guard in All 50 States Preparing "Quick Reaction Forces" for Rio Control Heats - U.N. Condmns Massacres in Sudan’s Darfur Region; No One Safe in El Fasher, Protesters Demand Justice for Victims of Rio Police Raid that Killed
Politics
ProPublica
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discovered that some big polluters had underestimated their emissions using methods known to be flawed, resulting in far higher levels of pollution than estimated. The agency halted their voluntary monitoring system for industrial facilities, citing concerns about how accurate their estimates were. In 2023, the EPA received irrefutable proof that these emission estimates were highly flawed, as over 5 million people faced an increased risk of developing cancer due to living near polluters whose estimated pollution levels were far higher than what was measured. The Trump administration halted rules requiring more accurate emissions monitoring on industrial facilities but allowed them to apply for two-year exemptions. This news summary focuses on the main points and important details related to the topic, highlighting the unreliable pollution reports and far higher levels of pollutant emissions at some of the country's largest industrial polluters.
Politics
naked capitalism
llama3.2:1b
2 weeks ago
The US House of Representatives has failed to pass a budget resolution, bringing the federal government to a near-shutdown. This development comes after President Donald Trump signed the Budget Control Act into law on Tuesday, which imposed strict spending cuts and revenue increases on all federal agencies. The bill was passed by Congress in December 2018 but stalled due to disagreements over its provisions. The absence of a budget resolution has severely limited the House's ability to pass essential legislation, including funding for government programs and infrastructure projects. Republicans have long opposed taking away taxpayer dollars from their own programs, while Democrats have argued that the cuts are necessary to address national debt concerns. The issue remains unresolved, with lawmakers unable to agree on a compromise. The shutdown has significant implications for congressional operations, particularly since it affects many staff members who rely on government funding to survive. While some lawmakers have called for votes on emergency legislation to address the situation, there is no clear path forward at this time. As a result, the fate of Congress remains uncertain, with many wondering if it will be able to overcome its own inaction and achieve meaningful reform.
Technology
Gizmodo
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is a robot vacuum with many clever features, including a roller that self-mops surfaces and cleans multiple rooms at once using a moop roller. However, the robotic parts are not flawless and struggle to navigate home appliances. The Aqua10 has mediocre vacuuming performance, but is expensive and not intuitive to use, with several software updates needed for basic tasks like navigating home. While the product's basic features work well, the Aqua10 suffers from poor battery life and unintuitive navigation. Overall, the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller is a good product, but with flaws that can be mitigated with better output.
Technology
The Verge
llama3.2:1b
2 weeks ago
Tech Gadgets Streaming The best things to watch over and over and over includes a power-user streaming app, Outer Worlds returning, a home robot, and more. A new streaming app update is also available, featuring improved Channels 7.0, a redesign for Apple TV. Additionally, the game Outer Worlds 2 continues its series of satirical world-building and commentary on capitalism. Streaming App Update The updated app includes multiview capabilities, making it easier to manage channels on mobile devices and Apple TV. New features also include the ability to view multiple streams at once. Home Robot A new home robot is available for purchase, bringing a DIY approach to household automation. The device has been redesigned with improved functionality and user experience. Tablet Gaming Fortnite continues to be a popular battle royale game, with a Simpsons-themed update adding new features and modes. A tabletop surface called Board offers an augmented gaming experience, allowing players to interact with physical pieces on a screen.
Technology
Articles on Smashing Magazine — For Web Designers And Developers
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
Article Title: AI In UX: Achieve More With Less Source: Articles on Smashiing Magazine — For Web Designers And Develovers Article Content: 16 min read AI, UX, Workflow Share on Twitter, LinkedIn About The Author Paul is a leader in conversion rate optimisation and user experience design thinking. He has over 25 years experience working with clients such as Doctor's... Trusted by 200,000+ folksoffice of Paul Boag shares lessons learned from real client projects across user research, design, development, and content creation. I have made a lot of mistakes with AI over the past couple of years. I have wasted hours trying to get it to do things it simply cannot do. I have fed it terrible prompts and received terrible output. And I have definitely spent more time fighting with it than I care to admit. But I have also discovered that when you stop treating AI like magic and start treatitlike what it actually is (a very enthusiastic intern with no real-world experience), things start to make more sense. Let me share what I have learned from working with AI on real client projects across user research, design, development, and content creation. How To Work With AI Here is the mental model that has been most helpful for me. Treat AI like an intern
Technology
Lifehacker
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
we take a look at how Apple is working on AI, specifically on image editors based on text prompts. The researchers have introduced a dataset of 400,000 images and 258,000 sampled single edits for comparison, as well as two sets of preference pairs, multiple-turn sequences, and multi-editing functions. The highest performing function is "strong artistic style transfer," achieving an 93% success rate, followed by "change font style or color of visible text if there is text." Other tested functions include "add new text," "zoom in," and "add film grain or vintage filter." Apple is not actively working on AI in the same way as OpenAI or Google, but it continues to contribute to open research like this.
Politics
The Intercept
llama3.2:1b
2 weeks ago
Israeli bombs rained down on Gaza, killing over 100 people, mostly women and children, according to health authorities. This marks the deadliest day since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023. The Israeli government has repeatedly broken the ceasefire, which is widely reported by media outlets as a "genocide". Palestinians have expressed skepticism about the ceasefire's existence, with some viewing it as a propaganda tool. President Donald Trump has continued to support Israel's actions against Gaza, pardoning billionaire crypto king Changpeng Zhao and his company Binance. This move is seen as part of Trump's pay-to-play approach to running the government. Critics argue that this reflects a quid pro quo relationship between the US administration and Israeli interests. The latest wave of strikes in Gaza has been described as "the deadliest day since the weeks-old ceasefire began" by health authorities, which marked the beginning of October 2023. The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with reports suggesting that the death toll could rise again in the coming days.
Politics
Democracy Now!
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
Mamdani of the Midwest: Meet Omar Faheed, the Next Mayor of Minnapolis? Headlines for October 31 Read Israel Continue Strong Gaza Despite Claiming to Comply with U.S-Brokered Ceasefire Report: Google and Amazon Violate Their Own Terms of Service in Israel's $1.2 Billion "Project NiMbus" Deal Death Toll from Hurricaine Melissa Rises to 49 Prince Andrew Struck Off Royal Titles and Evicted from Royal Mansions Trump Urges Republican Party to Kill the Filibuster to End the Government Shutdown Trump Cuts Refugee Admission to 7,500, Prioritizing White South African Citizens 404 Media: ICES and CBP Using Facial Recognition Technology to Identify Immigrant Status Dramatic Vidéo Showcasing ICES Agents Violently Arresting Mother Drinking Her Daughter at School Federal Judge in Chicago Orders Border Patrol Commander Biéroni à Apprendre à Compter pour l'Ouverture des Forces de l'Armée du Roi aux États-Unis La Mégalithe de Bénoué en Algérie est la plus haute encore : 138 mètres INTRODUCTORY PHRASES: Output only the
Politics
The Onion
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
Amidst controversies, Prince Andrew has had his royal computer privileges revoked by Buckingham Palace due to serious lapse in judgment by his younger brother, King Charles III. As a result, Andrew will no longer be permitted to spend time in the palace's computer lab with its door locked and access to Crown Ethereal restricted to six hours per day. The former Prince Andrew was stripped of all privileges after several instances of misconduct, including spending excessive amounts of time in online chat rooms and allegedly breaching protocol by seeking internet access for emergency purposes. The royal family also stated that if the former prince requires internet access for emergencies, he will be granted 10 minutes per day. The revocation comes amidst a series of negative headlines regarding Andrew's actions, including his reported sexual assault and abuse of power in relation to Epstein, his alleged role in the UK's alleged corruption scandal, and his failure to pay off multiple debts he has amassed over the years.
Entertainment
Input
tinyllama
2 weeks ago
Supreme and Yohji Yamamoto collaborate on a new collection, featuring Tekken-inspired apparel and accessories that pay homage to the iconic fighting game franchise. The collection combines both Supreme's streetwear aesthetic and Yohji Yamamoto's design sensibilities, showcasing character designs and motifs from the franchise in graphic-heavy designs. Notable items include a black or white base with paint graphics, T-shirts, suits, and footwear, all featuring branding and co-branded pieces. The collection is scheduled for an exclusive Thursday drop, with stores across the US expected to carry it starting September 24th. Fans will have to shell out big bucks to indulge in the nostalgia of this beloved franchise.