On my brother’s recommendation I downloaded & listened to Althea Raj’s podcast It’s Political (today’s edition) about the Liberal Alberta oil pipeline/environment rollback perfidy. She handled it really well.
How-To Geek: The 1st and 2nd Gen Nest Thermostat Are Dead
- Google cut cloud support for original Nest thermostats, disabling the app and remote control.
- They still work manually as basic thermostats, but smart features and integrations are gone.
- Google emailed a discounted upgrade: 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat for $149.99 (regular $279.99).
They’ve been “Doctorow’ed”!
My life these days seems to primarily consist of recharging my Apple product batteries, and recharging myself with coffee. 🔋 ☕️
I wish the Apple Sports app would add the PWHL! Progress is still slow… 🏒🥅
I listened to Core Intuition 26.1: Mess Everything Up tonight while making dinner. So great. Maybe Manton and Daniel would consider doing a month end podcast? That’d be nice.
Our solar panels have done surprisingly well with almost no significant degradation over 16 years. (We got the first few panels on in 2009, and then added panels each of the next two years until we reached our full complement.)
Late June and the decay has already started.
Cardiff Castle
📷 #mbjune
Nuuk. It rained all day but “our spirits weren’t dampened!”
Hoping to be in Cardiff this spring for a week or more, and maybe a bus trip up the west side of Wales. Really looking forward to it!
My copy of How Comics Were Made arrived today and it is gorgeous!
By Glenn Fleishman
ISBN 978-1-7334954-1-7
howcomicsweremade.ink
It’s getting hard to find my way through the thicket of Trump craziness and distractions to get to the meat of other significant political events.
Meringue! [photo by S]
TIL that making an appointment with someone who uses the Ethiopian calendar could be a challenge: twelve 30-day months plus a 5- or 6-day kicker. Year zero was 7 or 8 years after the Gregorian started. Finally, it uses 12-hour days starting at 6am “our time”.
For far more details, see Wikipedia!
Once again Drafts broke when the annual subscription auto-renewed. I like the app when it is working, but this has been going on for years and it is so tiresome!
I just bought a graphic novel by Chris Ware after listening to an interesting interview with him on CBC’s Bookends this morning. (I’ll put a link to the interview in tonight’s Eclectic Articles post.)
Looking ahead, how long after people start buying autonomous cars before they’ll be asking to be able to send them to pick up lattés at the Starbucks drive through? 😄
We’re beating plowshares into swords, For those tired old men That we elected King.
This is end Of the innocence.
Somewhere back there in the dust, That same small town in each of us.
Jammed Mechanism
The mechanism we have in place to deal with our most difficult societal issues is for the government to review them and then to take a stand, and pass enabling legislation.
The federal Liberals seem completely paralyzed from making any decision that anyone might object to. It’s a complete leadership vacuum.
I love the hills at this time of year when they’re covered in these cheery purple flowers.
I wish I could edit with my voice. It would have to be more accurate than Siri is today, but it would be terrific.
e.g. “Change ‘That was a disaster!’ to ‘In my opinion, overcoming the impression left on undecided voters may be insurmountable.’”
Time for Beto O’Rourke to step up?
#DemocratCandidatesForPresident
🔗 Articles: Wednesday 26.Jun.2024
Don’t leave home without it.
CartoonBrew: Disney-Themed Snow White Cafe In Hollywood Shutters After 78 Years
Snow White Cafe, a kitschy Disney-themed diner and dive bar located at 6769 Hollywood Boulevard, has abruptly shuttered. It had been in business for 78 years.
Its interior, which was decorated with murals of characters from Disney’s first animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, has been gutted.
There is plenty of lore surrounding the Disney murals. Some say the artwork was drawn by Disney artists who worked on the original feature — and it may have been, though there’s no way to prove it.
via Manton
CartoonBrew: Animation+, A Free Channel Focused On Adult Comedy Content, Launches In U.S. And Canada
Animation+, a new streaming service and studio focused on adult comedy content for millennial and Gen Z audiences, has launched in the U.S. and Canada. Its first consumer offering is a free ad-supported tv channel, currently available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus.
Hmmm, locking content to a specific hardware device.
NYT: Lauren Boebert Wins Crowded Primary in Colorado After Swapping Districts
Representative Lauren Boebert, the MAGA lightning rod who switched districts in Colorado to avoid being ousted from the House, won a crowded Republican primary on Tuesday in a conservative area of the state, all but ensuring that she will serve another two years in Congress.
Ms. Boebert, a two-term Republican, overcame multiple challengers in the eastern plains of Colorado, nearly guaranteeing that she will prevail over her Democratic rival in November in the solidly red Fourth Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race for her less than half an hour after polls closed as she led by a wide margin.
Electrek: Here’s how big of a difference tires can make on Tesla Model 3
The results were really interesting as they highlight how big of a difference on efficiency tires can make.
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They were all tested on the Model 3 with 18″ wheels except for the EcoReady, which was tested on 19″ and certainly negatively affected the results.
Regardless, this shows a 29 Wh per mile difference in efficiency between the most efficient and less efficient EV-optimised tires. That’s very interesting.
Electrek: CATL shares energy-dense battery that will power electric planes
The world’s largest battery maker continues to showcase why it’s the name to beat in its given segment. During the Shanghai Auto Show, CATL launched a new condensed battery that delivers the proper safety and energy density to enable the flight of electric passenger planes. If this technology sounds like it’s still several years away, think again — CATL expects to begin mass production sooner than you’d think.
CATL remains the name to beat in EV battery development, not only in China, where it is headquartered, but around the entire globe. This past February, the company emerged yet again as the largest battery market share holder on the planet for a sixth straight year.
TorStar: They’re offering $1M to keep the Ontario Science Centre open
How are Torontonians are banding together to try [to] save the Ontario Science Centre.
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Together, the pair run the Vohra Miller foundation, founded in 2020 to help fund STEM initiatives in the city. Vohra-Miller, who is a public health doctorate student at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, was named a vaccine hero by the Star in 2021, and she has dedicated her life to science education. Miller joined Shopify in its nascent days in 2011 as head of its marketing team, and stayed on to be chief product officer until 2020, after the company was named Canada’s largest.
The Science Centre, and science education more broadly isn’t important just for families and kids, or as a piece of architectural history, but because there’s a “hostility towards science” post-pandemic, Vohra-Miller said.
CP: Closing science centre unnecessary, says firm of architect who designed building
“The Rimkus engineering report makes it clear that closing the OSC is not a necessity,” the firm wrote.
“Repairs are needed, but on a manageable scale and with potentially minimal impact on the public experience of the building. We offer our architectural services pro bono to the Government of Ontario to realize the necessary roof repairs and we encourage the structural and building science community to similarly offer pro bono services for this scope to accomplish the recommended repairs immediately.”
CP: Apple to bring self-service repair program to Canada next year
Apple says Canadians will soon get access to a program providing them with the parts, tools and manuals they need to fix their own devices.
The tech giant says the self-service repair program will make its debut in 2025, likely in the first few months of the year.
MacRumors: Alleged First Look at Apple Watch X / Series 10 With 2-Inch Display
Apple is rumored to be planning a revamp of the Apple Watch for the device’s tenth anniversary, and 91mobiles claims to have sourced CAD renders of what could be the “Apple Watch X” or Apple Watch Series 10 from industry insiders.
The site claims that the renders are of a “larger” model featuring a 2-inch display. The current Apple Watch Series 9 has a 1.7-inch display, while the Apple Watch Ultra has a display size of 1.93-inches, so this would be the biggest screen on an Apple Watch so far.
The Christian Science Monitor: For Biden and Trump, debate offers a rare chance to change perceptions
While a plurality of voters identify themselves as independents, polling suggests that the number of true independents who don’t lean one way or the other is actually in the single digits. But as Jordan Tama, a political expert at American University and a national security adviser to Mr. Obama’s 2008 campaign, pointed out in a call with reporters Tuesday, debates can be critical for this small population who “tips our elections.”
SVA!
First though, it has to be said that the loss of Toronto-St. Paul’s is a large one for Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. They know what many past Liberal voters were saying at the doors — that they couldn’t vote for candidate Leslie Church because they are keen to see Trudeau leave.
Whether they obtain that wish soon or after the 2025 election is going to be the question of the summer. It’s said that only Trudeau can ultimately make that decision — that no one is going to force him out.
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All these MPs will be so intent on avoiding the same fate as Toronto-St. Paul’s, they will likely be extremely eager to please restive voters. Need help on a tax matter, or someone to help you move? Call up your local Liberal MP.
Forbes: U.S. Oil And Gas Production Are Ahead Of Last Year’s Record Pace
Last year marked a record for U.S. oil production with an average daily production of 12.93 million barrels per day (BPD). That record was 5% greater than the previous record of 12.31 million bpd set in 2019.
However, current data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that average daily production thus far in 2024 is 13.12 million bpd — 7.1% ahead of the production level of a year ago and 1.4% higher than last year’s record pace.
Last Updated: 26.Jun.2024 23:52 EDT
I’m very disappointed to find that Victorinox no longer makes the simple 2-bladed Swiss Army pocket knife that I’ve carried for years. I find it hard to believe that they would discontinue it!
Sorry to hear of the passing of Big Nerd Ranch books & bootcamps. 😞
https://bignerdranch.com/blog/finding-new-pastures-big-nerd-ranchs-next-chapter/
🔗 Articles: Monday 03.Jun.2024
Snap! Crackle! Pop!
The Guardian: European and Canadian central banks expected to cut interest rates this week
New lower rates of 3.75% and 4.75% respectively are likely to be introduced this week after drops in inflation.
WashPo: Claudia Sheinbaum elected Mexico’s first female president
The historic vote Sunday underscored the nation’s progress on gender equity but the Morena victory highlighted concerns about the weakening of its democratic institutions.
NYT: MicroStrategy and Its Founder to Pay $40 Million in Tax Fraud Lawsuit
Michael Saylor did not pay any income taxes to Washington despite living there from 2005 through 2020, the attorney general for the District of Columbia said.
The attorney general for the District of Columbia reached a $40 million settlement with Michael Saylor and the software company he founded, MicroStrategy, in what the attorney general’s office said was the largest income tax fraud recovery in Washington history, The New York Times has learned.
The settlement, which is expected to be announced on Monday, stems from lawsuits filed in 2021 and 2022 accusing Mr. Saylor of evading more than $25 million in income taxes in Washington. Mr. Saylor enlisted MicroStrategy’s help to file fraudulent forms from 2005 through 2020 claiming that he lived in either Virginia or Florida, states with significantly lower income tax rates, and he did not pay any income taxes to the district during that period, the attorney general’s office said.
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“Michael Saylor and his company, MicroStrategy, defrauded the district and all of its residents for years,” Brian L. Schwalb, the attorney general, said in a statement. “Indeed, Saylor openly bragged about his tax-evasion scheme, encouraging his friends to follow his example and contending that anyone who paid taxes to the district was stupid.”
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This is not the first time that Mr. Saylor or MicroStrategy has been accused of committing fraud: In 2000, Mr. Saylor and two other MicroStratgy executives settled accounting fraud charges with the Securities and Exchange Commission for about $11 million.
NYT: Abnormally Dry Canada Taps U.S. Energy, Reversing Usual Flow
In February, the United States did something that it had not done in many years — the country sent more electricity to Canada than it received from its northern neighbor. Then, in March, U.S. electricity exports to Canada climbed even more, reaching their highest level since at least 2010.
The increasing flow of power north is part of a worrying trend for North America: Demand for energy is growing robustly everywhere, but the supply of power — in Canada’s case from giant hydroelectric dams — and the ability to get the energy to where it’s needed are increasingly under strain.
Meanwhile in Ontario, Doug Ford tore down windmills!
Reuters: UK’s Labour Party set for 194-seat majority in general election - YouGov poll
Britain’s main opposition Labour Party is set to win next month’s general election in a landslide victory with a 194-seat majority, YouGov said on Monday.
The multilevel regression and post-stratification (MRP) poll predicted that Labour would win 422 seats, with the governing Conservatives expected to win 140 seats.
A previous YouGov’s MRP poll published in early April showed Labour winning 403 seats nationwide if a general election was held then. A party would need to win more than 320 seats to secure a majority in parliament.
This is going to be a huge change! Of course, there will be lots of mistakes with so many rookie MPs and MPs who have never been in power.
TechRadar: I watched Nvidia’s Computex 2024 keynote and it made my blood run cold
There was something that Huang said during the keynote that shocked me into a mild panic. Nvidia’s Blackwell cluster, which will come with eight GPUs, pulls down 15kW of power. That’s 15,000 watts of power. Divided by eight, that’s 1,875 watts per GPU.
Our house averages less than 0.5 kW!
MacRumors: Apple Readies WWDC Stream on YouTube Ahead of Keynote Next Week
WWDC 2024 will kick off with Apple’s keynote on June 10 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, and the page where the presentation will be live streamed is now available on YouTube. On the page, you can set a reminder to be notified before the keynote begins.
NYT: Elon Musk’s Starlink Connects and Divides Brazil’s Marubo People
Elon Musk’s Starlink has connected an isolated tribe to the outside world — and divided it from within.
NYT: The 25 Photos That Defined the Modern Age
In 1966, Ruscha photographed both sides of the Strip by securing a motorized camera to the bed of a pickup truck. The result was “Every Building on the Sunset Strip,” a nearly 25-foot accordion-fold, self-published artist’s book.
NYT: EVs Are Suddenly Becoming Affordable
More efficient manufacturing, falling battery costs and intense competition are lowering sticker prices for battery-powered models to within striking distance of gasoline cars.
The most accurate way to compare cars is by their total lifetime cost (TLC), in which case electric cars are now actually cheaper than carbon cars!
CNN: Claudia Sheinbaum profile: Who is the veteran politician set to be Mexico’s first female president?
The 61-year-old is set to replace the outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her longtime ally whose social welfare programs lifted many Mexicans out of poverty, making their leftist Morena party favorite in the polls.
“Our duty is and will always be to look after every single Mexican without distinction,” Sheinbaum said in a speech early Monday morning. “Even though many Mexicans do not fully agree with our project, we will have to walk in peace and harmony to continue building a fair and more prosperous Mexico.”
Baffler: The Insulin Empire
But if a patient is so lucky as to be diagnosed with diabetes in time to prevent or ameliorate DKA, they are immediately faced with another disconcerting problem: accessing the treatment, which happens to be one of the most lucrative pharmaceutical products in human history. Just past the centennial of insulin’s discovery, the lack of insulin access and affordability continues to run rampant globally. Of the 537 million people living with diabetes worldwide, around 70 million require insulin. At the same time, more than three in four adults with diabetes reside in low- and middle-income countries where a combination of poverty and predatory pharmaceutical regimes make acquiring sufficient insulin difficult or impossible. Even in higher-income countries, pharmaceutical consortiums control who gets access to insulin, and for how much.
Take the United States: about 38.4 million Americans–including children–have diabetes, and among them, 8.4 million rely on insulin. A 2019 Yale study found that one in four insulin-dependent diabetics have resorted to rationing their insulin supplies: using less insulin than prescribed, stopping insulin therapy, delaying the start of insulin therapy, not filling prescriptions, and engaging in other underuse behaviors related to cost. Many who need insulin not only require adequate dosages but different types of insulins, alongside a suite of devices to monitor and stabilize blood sugar levels as health complications can emerge if they drift too far in either direction. Forgoing adequate insulin dosing can have devastating consequences for type 1 and many type 2 diabetics, and the practice is a substantial driver of the hundreds of thousands of deaths attributable to diabetes complications in the United States each year. With global diabetes rates expected to double by 2050, insulin accessibility and affordability will continue to be a matter of life and death for people with the disease.
The potential for insulin’s market exploitation was almost presciently understood by Banting and his team at the University of Toronto, so in 1923, when Banting and Best were awarded the U.S. patents for insulin and the method for making it, they swiftly sold them to the university for $1 each. “Insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world,” Banting explained, believing that profiting off such an essential treatment was not only immoral but detrimental to ensuring universal affordability and access.
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Some of the commonly used forms of insulin have long been exponentially more expensive in the United States than in the rest of the OECD; for years, caravans have taken Americans across the border to Canada, where they can buy insulin for a tenth of its U.S. price. Stateside, insulin prices have consistently seen hikes that are eye-watering for patients and mouth-watering for executives and investors. A vial of Eli Lilly’s rapid-acting Humalog (insulin lispro) cost $21 in 1996 but increased to $332 by 2018.
Last Updated: 03.Jun.2024 22:29 EDT