New posts from the.micro.blog
đ Articles: Mon 19.Feb.2024
Globe: How Canadian hospitals grew dependent on expensive out-of-town nurses
During the pandemic, governments turned to private firms who sent staff from across the country at higher hourly rates. A Globe investigation focusing on one such nursing agency shows those werenât the only costs borne by taxpayers.
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But this help came at a heavy cost. CHL, part of a burgeoning for-profit health care staffing industry that began expanding aggressively during the pandemic, demanded payments that in some cases worked out to hourly rates of more than $300 for each nurse, or roughly six times what a nurse on staff at a hospital in Atlantic Canada typically earns. The companyâs highest rates were more than double even those charged by its private-sector competitors. CHL nevertheless inked tens of millions of dollars in contracts with health authorities in Newfoundland, and later New Brunswick.
Shortly before she was to join her team in its defence of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts title this weekend, lead Briane Harris was ruled ineligible to compete.
Why? This is Canada. None of your business why.
NewsNation: Truckers boycott NYC after Trumpâs $355M fraud ruling: Reports
A group of truckers, supporters of former President Donald Trump, are boycotting deliveries to New York City following the $355 million fine levied against him in a fraud case, according to a report by the New York Post.
The move, initiated by trucker Chicago Ray, gained traction after he posted a video on social media declaring that some truckers are refusing to transport goods to the city. In the video, Ray stated that numerous drivers he had spoken to were planning to halt deliveries to protest the ruling issued in Manhattan Supreme Court last Friday.
MacRumors: Gurman: Apple Vision Pro 2 at Least 18 Months Away
In the latest edition of his âPower Onâ newsletter, Gurman said that Apple is likely at least a year and a half away from the release of the second-generation Vision Pro headset, placing launch in late August 2025 at the earliest. Gurman noted that Apple is keenly interested in the reasons why customers who choose to return the first-generation Vision Pro headset do so, ultimately passing feedback from retail stores to the companyâs headquarters to help perfect the next version of the device.
The tidbit effectively rules out the idea of the Vision Pro receiving annual updates like the iPhone or Apple Watch, suggesting that it is likely to follow a longer refresh cycle that could even surpass that of the iPad.
UPI: Historians rank Trump worst president in history, Lincoln the best
Trump has touted his poll numbers against President Joe Biden ahead of a potential rematch in November. However, the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, conducted by Qualtrics, has Biden significantly ahead of the former president.
The survey was conducted online among more than 500 members of the American Political Science Association, an organization of professionals in the field. Respondents rated Biden at 62.66 on a scale of 100 for overall greatness, good for 14th out of 45 presidents.
Abraham Lincoln scored the highest rating at 93.87, followed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt at 90.83 and George Washington at 90.32.
Trump scored 10.92. Fifteenth President James Buchanan, the second-worst rated president, scored 16.71.
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Republicans and conservatives notably rank Trump worse than Biden, as well. Trump ranked 41st and 43rd by Republicans and conservatives, respectively. Meanwhile, Biden was ranked 30th by both.
NYT: For Michiganâs Economy, Electric Vehicles Are Promising and Scary
But autoworkers fixate on the assumption that electric cars â simpler machines than their gas-powered forebears â will require fewer hands to build. They accuse Mr. Biden of jeopardizing their livelihoods.
âI was disappointed,â Ms. Simmons said of the president. âWe trust you to make sure that Americans are employed.â
Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers such as BYD are exporting electric cars in increasing volumes (primarily to Europe). Reportedly theyâve greatly increased the build quality and sophistication. That seems like a greater threat, even with duties.
NYT: Adelle Waldman: Itâs Not Just Wages. Retailers Are Mistreating Workers in a More Insidious Way.
Many people choose to work part time for better work-life balance or to attend school or to care for children or other family members. But many donât. In recent years, part-time work has become the default at many large chain employers, an involuntary status imposed on large numbers of their lowest-level employees. As of December, almost four and a half million American workers reported working part time but said they would prefer full-time jobs.
Guardian: US urges Israel to drop plans for Rafah ground offensive
The US has proposed a UN security council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire and for Israel not to go ahead with a planned offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza.
The draft text marks the first time the US has explicitly backed a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, though it adds that the temporary truce should be begun âas soon as practicableâ, leaving some room for manoeuvre by the Israeli military.
The text is being offered by the Biden administration as an alternative to an Algerian draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that is due to be debated on Tuesday.
The US appeal over Rafah, where about half of Gazaâs 2.3 million population have sought refuge, echoes comments made by Joe Biden in recent days. But the significance of the draft resolution is as a signal that Washington is willing to go through the UN to put pressure on Israel and not rely solely on bilateral messages.
via pratik on micro.blog
Updated: 19.Feb.2024 19:36 EST
đ Articles: Tue 20.Feb.2024
Wednesdayâs articles (in progress)
9to5Mac: Developers working on emulating old iOS games on newer iPhones
For example, modern iPhones and iPads canât run 32-bit apps, so they canât run most apps from the early days of the App Store. With touchHLE, those who miss these apps and games will have another chance to play them again without having an old piece of hardware.
Guardian: Prolific cybercrime gang disrupted by joint UK, US and EU operation
LockBit, a notorious cybercrime gang that holds its victimsâ data to ransom, has been disrupted in a rare international law enforcement operation by Britainâs National Crime Agency, the FBI, Europol and a coalition of international police agencies, according to a post on the gangâs extortion website.
âThis site is now under the control of the National Crime Agency of the UK, working in close cooperation with the FBI and the international law enforcement taskforce âOperation Cronosâ,â the post said on Monday.
Guardian: Russian pilot who defected found dead in Spain, says Ukraine security agency
Reports in Russian and Spanish media on Monday said Maksim Kuzminov was found dead after allegedly moving to the town of Villajoyosa in Alicante on the Mediterranean coast, in an area popular with holidaymakers. His body was discovered last Tuesday, it was said, on the car park ramp underneath an apartment block.
BlogTO: Toronto is finally about to get its first IHOP restaurant
The legendary International House of Pancakes revealed in late 2019 that it was planning to open 15 new locations across the GTA over seven years as part of a long-awaited Canadian expansion.
According to recent building permits issued by the City of Toronto, the first dine-in IHOP location in the city is gearing up to open at 345 Bloor Street East, taking over a space formerly occupied by Eggspectation.
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Six IHOP locations already exist in the Niagara Falls area, while the brand opened an eighth Ontario location in Belleville within a disused truck stop in 2023.
Iâm always interested to see successful American chains entering Canada, some not recognizing that there are significant differences in the markets.
National Geographic: Long COVID can destroy your ability to exercise. Now we know why.
As a new study shows, the answer lies in some long COVID sufferersâ muscle damage and their bodiesâ ability to make energy.
For many people with long COVID, a major symptom is difficulty with exercising, because when these patients push past their limits it can lead to a devastating cycle of fatigue that boosts the risk of worsening their condition.
These issues with exercise, which is known as post-exertional malaise (PEM), are also the defining symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Now a new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, provides an explanation for this feeling of exhaustion, suggesting that patients with long COVID experience a range of changes in their body after exercising, including widespread muscle damage, changes in muscle composition, and disrupted energy metabolism.
BBC: Woolworths: Australian grocery boss quits amid price-gouging claims
The pressure on the chief intensified this week after what has widely been described as a disastrous interview.
Mr Banducci walked out on a reporter after bristling over the line of questioning.
Australia has one of the worldâs most concentrated grocery markets.
Woolworths - the nationâs largest retailer - and its rival Coles control 65% of the market, and both have been facing intense criticism over their business models as the country battles a cost-of-living crisis.
BBC: Israel Gaza: China condemns US veto of call for immediate ceasefire at UN
Beijing said the move sent the âwrong messageâ and effectively gave a âgreen light to the continued slaughterâ.
The White House said the Algerian-proposed resolution would âjeopardiseâ talks to end the war.
The US has proposed its own temporary ceasefire resolution, which also warned Israel not to invade the city of Rafah.
There has been widespread condemnation of the US decision to block Algeriaâs resolution as fighting continued in Gaza. It was backed by 13 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council - with the UK abstaining.
BBC: Handwritten Hotel California lyrics at centre of trial
Handwritten pages inscribed with the first known iterations of legendary rock song Hotel California will take centre stage at a criminal trial on Wednesday.
Glenn Horowitz, Craig Inciardi and Edward Kosinski have been charged with conspiring to sell pages from the yellow lined pad, along with other Eagles lyrics, without the rights.
The notepad was allegedly stolen before they bought it, prosecutors said.
The three men have pleaded not guilty.
The Manhattan district attorneyâs office is expected to call former Eagles member Don Henley as its star witness.
Last Updated: 20.Feb.2024 23:58 EST
Articles: Wed 21.Feb.2024
- continuing to share thoughts on my experiences with Strata here
NYT: Alabama Rules Frozen Embryos Are Children, Raising Questions About Fertility Care
An Alabama Supreme Courtâs ruling that frozen embryos in test tubes should be considered children has sent shock waves through the world of reproductive medicine, casting doubt over fertility care for would-be parents in the state and raising complex legal questions with implications extending far beyond Alabama.
On Tuesday, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said the ruling would cause âexactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make.â
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Referencing antiabortion language in the state constitution, the judgesâ majority opinion said that an 1872 statute allowing parents to sue over the wrongful death of a minor child applies to unborn children, with no exception for âextrauterine children.â
âEven before birth, all human beings have the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory,â Chief Justice Tom Parker wrote in a concurring opinion, citing scripture.
Wales Online: Thousands of junior doctors in Wales will strike for 72 hours from today
People have been warned to expect service levels resembling those normally seen on a bank holiday.
BBC: Super Bowl parade shooting: Two men charged with murder
Mr Mays was the one who got into an argument at the event and drew a handgun, Ms Peters Baker alleged.
Other people then drew guns during the incident, officials said. That included Mr Miller, who prosecutors believe is the one who shot and killed Lisa Lopez Galvan, 43, during the incident.
CBC: Hometown kid Arshdeep Bains makes Vancouver Canucks debut
Bains becomes 1 of only 4 Punjabi players to play in the NHL.
MacRumors: Apple Announces âGroundbreakingâ New Security Protocol for iMessage
Apple today announced a new post-quantum cryptographic protocol for iMessage called PQ3. Apple says this âgroundbreakingâ and âstate-of-the-artâ protocol provides âextensive defenses against even highly sophisticated quantum attacks.â
Apple believes the PQ3 protocolâs protections âsurpass those in all other widely deployed messaging apps,â according to its blog post:
Today we are announcing the most significant cryptographic security upgrade in iMessage history with the introduction of PQ3, a groundbreaking post-quantum cryptographic protocol that advances the state of the art of end-to-end secure messaging. With compromise-resilient encryption and extensive defenses against even highly sophisticated quantum attacks, PQ3 is the first messaging protocol to reach what we call Level 3 security â providing protocol protections that surpass those in all other widely deployed messaging apps. To our knowledge, PQ3 has the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world.
CBC: Ottawa Black Bears to join National Lacrosse League next season
New York Riptide moving to Canadian Tire Centre after current season
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The Black Bearsâ first home game should be in December, the league said.
The hardest working athletes in team sports!
The Guardian: Power tools at the ready! The life-changing science behind hip and knee replacements
Thousands of people are given new joints each year in the UK. But can robots and smart tech soon make it a smoother procedure?
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According to the National Joint Registry (NJR), which covers England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey, there were 99,043 primary hip replacement procedures in 2022 and 98,469 primary knee replacement procedures, a figure that includes partial replacements. (âPrimaryâ meaning it is the first time that particular joint has been replaced in the patient.)
Prevalence is highest in people in their mid to late-70s. Data from NHS England for 2021/22 reveals that, among women aged 75 to 79, the rate of hip replacements was 621.8 per 100,000; while for knee replacements, including partial ones, it was 649.2 per 100,000. For men of a similar age, the figures were 420.6 and 587.7 per 100,000 respectively. But these are no longer operations of old age.
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The website of West Suffolk NHS Foundation trust â one of the few to clearly publish its waiting times â reveals the average wait for a hip or knee replacement is currently 57 or 59 weeks respectively. This, despite the NHS constitution including a right for patients to receive such surgery within 18 weeks.
Guardian: Is going to bed at 9pm the secret to happiness? My week of sleeping like a gen Zer
What is the world coming to when teenagers believe that? Why would anyone â young or old â want to go bed at nine? And what would happen if I tried it, just for a week?
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The truth is that some people â young and old â will naturally want to go bed early, while some will naturally sleep for more than nine hours. But even if you want to emulate them, there probably isnât much you can do about it.
The Atlantic: You Could Take Ozempic and Not Lose Any Weight
No medication in the history of modern weight loss has inspired as much awe as the latest class of obesity drugs. Wegovy and Zepbound are so effective that they are often likened to âmagicâ and âmiracles.â Indeed, the weekly injections, which belong to a broader class known as GLP-1s, can lead to weight loss of 20 percent or more, fueling hype about a future in which many more millions of Americans take them. Major food companies including NestlĂ© and Conagra are considering tailoring their products to suit GLP-1 users. Underlying all this excitement is a huge assumption: They work for everyone.
But for a lot of people, they just donât. Anita, who lives in Arizona, told me she âtook it for grantedâ that she would lose weight on a GLP-1 drug because âthe people around me who were on it were just dropping weight like mad.â Instead, she didnât shed any pounds. Likewise, Kathryn, from Florida, hasnât lost any weight since starting the medication in October. âI was really hoping this was something that would be a game changer for me, but it feels like it was just a lot of wasted money,â she told me.
CBC: Ontario documents show patient complaints over cataract billings
As Ontario prepares to expand the number of private clinics that perform publicly funded cataract surgeries, documents show those procedures form one of the most common complaints the province receives from patients about unfair billing practices.
The Canadian Press submitted a freedom-of-information request for copies of complaints made under the law banning medical professionals from charging patients for services covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
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âAccording to the records provided, you had consented to paying for and receiving these services,â the ministry told the patient.
âThe [Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act] does not apply to uninsured services, and any costs associated with these services are the responsibility of the patient.â
Gelinas said such examples show that patients receiving publicly funded surgeries in private clinics are being upsold and are not always clear on what charges they will have to pay out of pocket.
She was referred to an orthopedic specialist in November and told it could take up to three months to get an appointment. But she still hasnât received a consultation.
âI call every week, crying, almost screaming because I canât endure the pain anymore,â said Payette. âIâm not even on the list yet in the public system.â
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According to the Health Ministry, 19,836 people were waiting for a hip or knee replacement in Quebec as of the latest figures available on Jan. 27.Â
Of those patients, 8,822 had waited six months or more for surgery.
NewsNation: Kevin OâLeary: Biden student debt forgiveness âcompletely unfairâ
âShark Tankâ investor Kevin OâLeary says President Joe Bidenâs student debt cancellation is âcompletely unfair.â
âWhy is this cohort the only one that gets this deal?â OâLeary asked during an appearance on NewsNationâs âThe Hill.â âHow unfair is that? What kind of a message is that? Iâm 100% against this.â
OâLeary calls the cancellation âunfair to people who didnât go to college prior to this forgiveness of debt because they couldnât afford it.â
I guess thereâs a first time for everything, and for once I actually agree with OâLeary on something. This is really bad policy and there are better alternatives for the same money.
Daring Fireball: Coming Soon: Apple Immersive Video Film With Highlights of MLS 2023 Playoffs
Apple Newsroom, in a post announcing the kickoff of the MLS 2024 season:
Coming soon, all Apple Vision Pro users can experience the best of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with the first-ever sports film captured in Apple Immersive Video. Viewers will feel every heart-pounding moment in 8K 3D with a 180-degree field of view and Spatial Audio that transports them to each match.
I speculated on the most recent episode of Dithering â which you should subscribe to! â that Appleâs immersive video sports coverage might not be for live events any time soon, but rather will be something akin to NFL Films and the heyday of HBOâs Inside the NFL. Which is to say, highlights presented in far better quality than what you see live. Sounds like thatâs exactly whatâs coming soon, at least.
Last Updated: 21.Feb.2024 23:57 EST
Testing Micro.blog Notes with a Linklog
Iâm running an experiment with Micro.blogâs newest feature, Notes and the Strata app.
For several years I have produced a daily email of âinterestingâ1 links, essentially a private linklog.
Iâm now using Strata to create the linklog and making it available âliveâ as it grows during the day. I post the finished linklog list into my regular blog at the end of day.
As I go Iâve also been recording my questions, wishes & thoughts as another shared note.
I welcome any comments you have on either.
Created: 20.Feb.2024 14:56
Updated: 22.Feb.2024 14:41
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âinterestingâ meaning of interest to me for active or future projects, current news, items that may be of historical interest to me some day, and items in my areas of curiosity such as climate change, renewable energy, or software design. â©
Articles: Thu 22.Feb.2024
BBC: Whale song mystery solved by scientists
Scientists have worked out how some of the largest whales in the ocean produce their haunting and complex songs.
Humpbacks and other baleen whales have evolved a specialised âvoice boxâ that enables them to sing underwater.
The discovery, published in the journal Nature, has also revealed why the noise we make in the ocean is so disruptive for these ocean giants.
BBC: Christopher Saunders: Former Bishop of Broome charged with rape in Australia
Australian bishop Christopher Saunders has been charged with rape and a string of historical sex offences - some against children.
The 74-year-old was arrested in Broome on Wednesday, after parallel investigations ordered by Western Australian police and the Pope.
Mr Saunders, who has denied allegations in the past, was refused bail and will appear in court on Thursday.
He is one of the most senior Catholic clerics to face charges of this nature.
Mr Saunders is accused of two counts of rape, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault, and three counts of indecently dealing with a child as a person in authority.
Manton Reece: Simplified pricing in Micro.blog
Today thatâs changing. We are getting rid of the per-blog pricing. Instead, there will be three simple plans, and Micro.blog Premium will now include multiple blogs.
- $5: one blog with all the basic features
- $10: Micro.blog Premium, all the advanced features and up to 5 blogs included
- $15: Micro.blog Family, same as Premium but up to 5 users can post to any of your blogs
Additionally, there will continue to be no charge for hosting extra single-page web sites and test blogs. The new âup to 5 blogsâ count is for normal, full blogs.
Brighter Side: Groundbreaking new study reveals the cause of ADHD
âThis finding is a major step forward in our understanding of the genetic basis of ADHD,â said Prof. Ohad Birk, one of the authors of the study. âIn addition to the scientific importance of finding a clear delineation of a novel genetic basis and molecular pathways for ADHD, both the mutant human cells and the mouse strain carrying the human mutation can serve as an effective model system for the discovery of novel medications for ADHD.â
The study could have significant implications for the treatment and management of ADHD. While the disorder is typically treated with medication, such as stimulants and non-stimulants, these can have significant side effects, including decreased appetite, insomnia, and mood swings. The discovery of CDH2 as a key gene involved in ADHD could lead to the development of more targeted and effective treatments.
Business Insider: 7 Democrats Who Could Replace Biden If He Drops His Reelection Bid
After President Joe Biden announced his reelection bid last April, the vast majority of Democratic leaders coalesced around his candidacy, which wasnât surprising for an incumbent.
But Biden has one of the most unique backgrounds of any president in US history: Heâs been a fixture in Washington for over 50 years, as a Delaware senator, vice president, and now president. And if heâs reelected to a second term this fall, heâd be 82 years old at the time of his inauguration in January 2025 and 86 at the end of a second term.
Bidenâs age has become a cause of concern among many voters, including some who are inclined to back him over former President Donald Trump. The worries were amplified after Special Counsel Robert Hur released his report on the probe into Bidenâs handling of classified documents, where no charges were recommended but the presidentâs acuity and memory were questioned.
Through it all, Biden has defended his reelection bid, argued that his age is an asset, pushed back against the special counsel report, and articulated why he should be reelected â pointing to accomplishments like the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act and touting the low national employment numbers.
Kottke: Howâs It Going Today?
Iâm feeling a little retrospective and nostalgic today, so if youâll indulge me, Iâm going to acknowledge a couple of personal milestones.
- Today marks 19 years of me doing kottke.org as a full-time job. What. The. Actual. F? I kinda canât believe it. Before this, the longest Iâd ever stayed at a job was about two yearsâŠand the average was closer to 9-12 months. Aside from dropping out of grad school to bet my life on the World Wide Web, choosing to turn this website into my job is the best decision Iâve ever made.
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\2. This is a less-obvious milestone with diffuse edges but one that came to mind this morning as I looked back at some photos from a couple of years ago. When I announced I was taking a sabbatical in May 2022, I wrote about my fiddle leaf fig and the metaphorical connection I seem to have with it: âŠ
[How do I deal with Markdownâs automatic numbering? If I donât put a backslash in front of the â2â, it renders it as â1â (the start of a new numbered list), and if I do put it in, it leaves the â2â there but the backslash itself shows! The same problem occurs in Drafts.]
BBC: Steve Rosenberg: How two years of war in Ukraine changed Russia
24 February 2022 was a watershed moment.
But looking back the direction of travel had been clear. It was in 2014 that Russia had annexed Crimea from Ukraine and first intervened militarily in the Donbas; Alexei Navalny had been poisoned with a nerve agent in 2020 and jailed in 2021. Domestic repression in Russia pre-dates the invasion of Ukraine, but it has accelerated since.
As for Vladimir Putin, two years into this war he sounds increasingly confident and determined to defeat his enemies at home and abroad. He rails against America, Nato and the EU and presents Russiaâs war in Ukraine as a war on Russia by the âcollective Westâ, an existential battle for his countryâs survival.
Big Think: âMegastructureâ under Baltic Sea sheds light on Palaeolithic hunters
Archaeologists have identified what may be Europeâs oldest human-made megastructure, submerged 21 metres below the Baltic Sea in the Bay of Mecklenburg, Germany. This structure â which has been named the Blinkerwall â is a continuous low wall made from over 1,500 granite stones that runs for almost a kilometre. The evidence suggests it was constructed by Palaeolithic people between 11,700 and 9,900 years ago, probably as an aid for hunting reindeer.
The Verge: Switching to electric vehicles would be fantastic for kidsâ health
A wholesale switch to electric vehicles would be a tremendous boon to the health of many people around the world. But a new report from the American Lung Association highlights the particular advantages for children, especially those vulnerable to respiratory illness.
Based on a model in which all new vehicles sold by 2035 are zero-tailpipe emission, the group concludes that there would be 2.7 million fewer asthma attacks among children, as well as 147,000 fewer acute case of bronchitis. The transition to EV-only sales would also prevent 2.67 million cases of upper respiratory symptoms and 1.87 million cases of lower respiratory symptoms in children. And there would be 508 fewer cases of infant mortality.
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But âfleet turnoverâ can be slow, especially with conventional gas-powered cars and trucks becoming more capable, breaking down less, and staying on the road longer. The average light-duty vehicle on the road today is 12 years old, up from 9.6 years old in 2002.
If the United States wants to move to a fully electric fleet by 2050 â to meet President Bidenâs goal of net zero emissions â then sales of gasoline-powered vehicles would likely have to end altogether by around 2035. Thatâs an extraordinarily heavy lift.
The Verge: Ford slashes Mustang Mach-E prices again as EV price war enters its second year
For model year 2023, the Mustang Mach-E is getting a big price cut, as much as $8,000 off for some versions.
*TorStar: London, Ont., truck murders were terrorism, judge rules
The decision comes nearly three years after a white nationalist killer struck a family of five because he wanted to âkill Muslims.â
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After ruling the murders terrorism, Pomerance sentenced [Nathaniel] Veltman to a additional life sentence for the attempted murder of the young survivor, saying it warranted âthe strictest penalty known to Canadian law.â That sentence will be served at the same time as the automatic life sentence he already faced for first-degree murder.
Last Updated: Thu 22.Feb.2024 18:17 EST
Great to see the Sports app 1 from Apple. I hope they add the PWHL soon! (Also glad to be able to turn off the gambling stats.)
Articles: Fri 23.Feb.2024
Guardian: Vice Media to lay off hundreds of workers and stop publishing on its site
Vice plans to lay off hundreds of employees next week and stop publishing on Vice.com, according to a memo sent to staffers by Bruce Dixon, the Vice Media chief.
On Friday, Dixon confirmed that âseveral hundredâ staffers would be laid off and that the brand âwill no longer publish content on vice.comâ. He said the company is transitioning to a âstudio modelâ.
Guardian: Anatol Lieven: The war in Ukraine holds two lessons: Russia isnât an imminent threat, and Europe must rearm regardless
Remove the threat of a Russian invasion, and the real argument for European rearmament is almost the diametrical opposite: that it is necessary to make peace with Russia. For only a Europe confident of its ability to defend itself can break the circle â not only vicious but increasingly absurd â by which it is desperately afraid that the US will cease to guarantee its security, and therefore supports US policies that gravely damage its security. It is also, of course, obvious from recent comments by Donald Trump and his supporters that US military commitment to Europe cannot, in fact, be guaranteed in the long term.
Daring Fireball: Apple Sports
Apple is including betting odds in game listings by default, with data from DraftKings. If you donât want to see gambling odds, you need to turn them off in Settings â Sports.
Good!
CleanTechnica: FedEx Express UK Grows Its London Fleet Of E-Cargo Delivery Bikes
Replacing delivery vans that run on diesel or gasoline with electric vehicles is a key step along the way to a low carbon future. However, an electric delivery van takes up the same amount of space as a fossil-fueled van both on the road and when parked, which is why small electric vehicles are going to play a big role in last-mile deliveries in the near future.
Electric cargo bikes can be big part of the solution, especially enclosed models that keep both the driver and the load out of the weather, and ones which feature a lot of cargo space, such as the EAV 2Cubed and other 4-wheeled cargo e-bikes (e-quads?). And e-cargo bikes are not only cleaner and quieter than their ICE-powered counterparts, but it turns out they can often be quicker as well, while costing ten times less.
BBC: Jury finds NRA and ex-leader Wayne LaPierre liable for corruption
The National Rifle Association and two top executives have been found liable in a civil corruption trial and ordered to repay $6.35m (ÂŁ5m).
A New York jury agreed that former leader Wayne LaPierre cost the gun rights group millions of dollars through lavish spending on himself.
BBC: Intuitive Machines: Odysseus Moon lander âtipped over on touchdownâ
The Odysseus Moon lander is likely lying on its side with its head resting against a rock.
The US spacecraft, which made history on Thursday by becoming the first ever privately built and operated robot to complete a soft lunar touchdown, is otherwise in good condition.
Its owner, Texan firm Intuitive Machines, says Odysseus has plenty of power and is communicating with Earth.
Controllers are trying to retrieve pictures from the robot.
Steve Altemus, the CEO and co-founder of IM, said it wasnât totally clear what had happened but the data suggested the robot caught a foot on the surface and then fell because it still had some lateral motion at the moment of landing.
Last Updated: 23.Feb.2024 23:44 EST
Current dayâs article list in progress
Articles: Sat 24.Feb.2024
MacRumors: Steve Jobs Would Have Celebrated His 69th Birthday Today
Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, so today would have marked his 69th birthday had he not passed away in 2011 at the age of 56.
MacRumors: Handful of Apple Vision Pro Units Develop Identical Crack in Cover Glass
A small number of Apple Vision Pro owners have claimed that their headsets developed a hairline crack down the middle of the front cover glass, despite having never been dropped or mishandled.
The first report was posted in the subreddit /r/VisionPro about 18 days ago, and several more have appeared in the last week. All of the images show a distinctly similar vertical hairline crack above the nose bridge, implying that the damage is occurring at a particular point of tension, where the curvature of the laminated glass is most pronounced.
We were unable to find additional similar reports on social media, on Appleâs online Support Community, or in the MacRumors forums, suggesting that this is quite possibly a manufacturing defect limited to a small batch of units, rather than a widespread problem.
Apple Insider: ESR Stylus Pen review: specs, performance, price
We solely used the ESR Stylus Pen for the past week, and while itâs a worthy alternative to the Apple Pencil, it isnât a perfect substitute for everyone.
TorStar: Are American states coming for Canadaâs drugs? Hereâs how things could play out
Could the demands of competing in a North American market cause supply problems in Canada, following Floridaâs approval from the FDA to import medicine?
Globe: Country star Corb Lund criticizes Alberta minister over coal application support
An Alberta country music star is criticizing the provinceâs energy minister for advising its energy regulator to accept initial applications for a coal mine project in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta.
Corb Lund says that after meeting with Energy Minister Brian Jean, he doesnât believe the minister knows enough about the issue.
WashPo: How home builders are blocking measures to save energy
Home builders have used their political muscle to prevent states and cities from adopting the latest code, which would lower the climate impact of new houses.
Last Updated: 24.Feb.2024 23:48 EST
See the current article list in progress
Does iOS Mail not have any way to show in incoming mailâs headers?
There are times (such as receiving a questionable email) when you need to be able to examine the full headers.
Articles: Sun 25.Feb.2024
WashPo: Should you buy a plug-in hybrid car? Hereâs what to consider.
If youâre generally driving less than about 200 miles a day and can access charging, switching to all-electric makes the most sense. Youâll be able to top up your battery, saving money and emissions.
Plug-in hybrids will give you longer range without refueling but are less efficient, since they carry around both an electric and a gasoline drivetrain. âWhere the plug-in hybrid fails is that you pay for two drivetrains. Itâs a suboptimal solution,â says Tal, comparing the technology to a spork, neither a superior spoon nor fork. âIf you donât need the [gasoline] engine, donât take the engine with you.â
Guardian: Gasâs future looks cloudy as demand and prices tumble
A conference this week will discuss a market being transformed by green energy, LNG and milder winters.
Predicting even the direction of energy prices is extremely difficult.
Fully Charged (YouTube): A Lost Battery Technology Gets Recharged with LiNa Energy
âŠwith Arvind Sabharwal and Will Tope, Chairman and CEO of LiNa Energy, a UK based battery technology company.
By utilising one of the most abundant elements, sodium, the rediscovery of a previously forgotten battery chemistry and borrowing a few bits of technology garnered from fuel cell development, the team at LiNa have created a new, long duration stationary energy storage solution in the form of sodium solid state lithium free batteries.
Takes a few minutes to get rolling.
NYT: In on the Joke at the First-Ever Florida Man Games
A mullet contest, a âmud duelâ with pool noodles, an âevading arrestâ obstacle course â and a chance to mull why the meme that launched it all keeps hanging on.
đ¶ Celebrate good times, come on! đ¶
CBC: Case of unopened 1979 hockey cards from Sask. sells for over $5M at auction
A Saskatchewan family just turned a case of hockey cards into millions of dollars.
Around 1:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, bidding came to a close for a highly touted case filled with thousands of unopened 1979-1980 O-Pee-Chee brand hockey cards that a Saskatchewan family found in their attic.
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The case holding unopened boxes of cards is estimated to possibly hold from 25 to 27 Wayne Gretzky cards from his rookie year, but no one knows for sure, according to Simonds. Values vary, but mint condition Gretzky rookie cards have been sold for $3.75 million.
CBC: Jones advances to face Homan for record 7th Scotties title in final appearance
Jennifer Jones advanced to Sundayâs final at the Canadian womenâs curling championship with a 12-7 semifinal win over fellow Manitoban Kate Cameron in Calgary.
The 49-year-old skip is seeking a record-breaking seventh Scotties Tournament of Hearts title in her final appearance. She will face Ontarioâs Rachel Homan.
NYT: Duke Shuts Down Huge Plant Collection, Causing Scientific Uproar
Duke University has decided to close its herbarium, a collection of 825,000 specimens of plants, fungi and algae that was established more than a century ago. The collection, one of the largest and most diverse in the country, has helped scientists map the diversity of plant life and chronicle the impact of humans on the environment.
The universityâs decision has left researchers reeling. âThis is such a devastating blow for biodiversity science,â said Erika Edwards, the curator of the Yale Herbarium. âThe entire community is simultaneously shocked and outraged.â
NYT: Severe Frostbite Gets a Treatment That May Prevent Amputation
This month, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first therapy for treatment of severe frostbite in the country. The drug, iloprost, is given intravenously for several hours a day over a little more than week. It works by opening blood vessels to improve circulation, limiting inflammation and stopping the formation of platelet clumps that can stop circulation and kill tissue. Most at risk are a personâs toes, fingers, ears, cheeks and nose.
NYT: When Eyes in the Sky Start Looking Right at You
âWeâre acutely aware of the privacy implications,â Topher Haddad, head of Albedo Space, the company making the new satellites, said in an interview. His companyâs technology will image people but not be able to identify them, he said. Albedo, Mr. Haddad added, was nonetheless taking administrative steps to address a wide range of privacy concerns.
dpReview: Pixelmator Pro 3.4 Camelot review: An all-purpose image editor for the Mac
Key Features
- Broad layer-based editing
- Variety of ML (machine learning) based adjustment tools
- ML-powered selection, enlarging, and denoising tools
- Opens layered Photoshop PSD and PSB files
- Text and vector illustration tools
- Accepts photos from Photomator
- Inexpensive
- macOS only
Pixelmator Pro is available now from the Mac App Store at the aforementioned price of $49.99, which lets you run the app on up to 6 machines that share the same Apple ID or belong to a Family Sharing group. It requires macOS 11 Big Sur or later and runs on Macs with Intel or Apple silicon processors. Itâs not available for Windows systems.
Last Updated: 25.Feb.2024 23:59 EST
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Articles: Mon 26.Feb.2024
Guardian: I contacted my bank to report a scam purchase. Why didnât it cancel the transaction?
As scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, deceptions are harder and harder to spot. In your case, it sounds like you might have shopped on a fake or cloned website of a store you are familiar with. Scamwatch has some good resources on how to spot scams, but these arenât foolproof and the onus is certainly not on you as a consumer to avoid becoming the victim of a crime.
Michael Tsai: 2023 Six Colors Apple Report Card
Summary of various (knowledgeable) peopleâs comments on Jason Snellâs Apple report card*.*
Atlantic: Derek Thompson: The Americans Who Need Chaos
These [need-for-chaos] individuals are not idealists seeking to tear down the established order so that they can build a better society for everyone,â the authors wrote in their conclusion. âRather, they indiscriminately share hostile political rumors as a way to unleash chaos and mobilize individuals against the established order that fails to accord them the respect that they feel they personally deserve.â To sum up their worldview, Petersen quoted a famous line from the film The Dark Knight: âSome men just want to watch the world burn.â
Several months after I first read Petersenâs paper, I still canât get the phrase need for chaos out of my head. Everywhere I look, I seem to find new evidence that American politics is being consumed by the flesh-eating bacteria of a new nihilismâa desire to see existing institutions destroyed, with no particular plan or interest to replace and improve them.
TorStar: Ford comments on judges pose âsubstantial threatâ: Lawyers
Premier Doug Ford is doubling down on his desire to have âlike-mindedâ judges in Ontario courts, a stance described by lawyers as a âsubstantial threatâ to the independence of the courts and the publicâs confidence in the justice system.
âI am going to make sure we have like-minded judges,â Ford said Monday during question period at Queenâs Park in response to a question from Liberal MPP John Fraser.
The premierâs comments confirm and go further than already controversial remarks he made to reporters late last week in response to a Star exclusive that two of his ex-senior staffers have been appointed by his government to the armâs-length committee that vets and recommends judges for the Ontario Court of Justice.
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The Advocatesâ Society, the national organization representing lawyers who appear in court, told Ford in a letter Monday â prior to his comments at Queenâs Park â that they had serious concerns with what he said on Friday.
âYour comments â and the approach to judicial appointments that your comments convey â pose a substantial threat to the independence of Ontarioâs judges from the government and to public confidence in the administration of justice in this province,â society president Dominique Hussey told Ford, ccâing his attorney general, Doug Downey.
Wow â Doug Ford has Trump disease!
InsideEVs: Automakers Are Lobbying To Roll Back EV Adoption. It May Work.
The auto industry doesnât love admitting this, but it was really hoping that last year would be like the early 1970s were for color televisionâthe point where a new technology takes off while an older one could begin to be phased out. With electric vehicles, adoption is proving to be less predictable than they wanted. Now many automakers want to dial back expectations for EV adoption. Theyâve already convinced their shareholders. Their dealers work every day to dissuade consumers. And itâs certainly good for their balance sheets in the short term.
BestLife: Costco Shoppers Are Abandoning These Kirkland Products: âGone Downhillâ
Customers claim that many of the items theyâre buying are not as good as they once were.
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In the comment section, more Costco shoppers spoke out about the decline theyâd noticed in other Kirkland products, including juices, detergents, fruits, veggies, chicken breasts, salsas, toilet paper, and diapers.
âCostco started going downhill as soon as COVID hit,â one shopper wrote in the Reddit thread. âIâm letting my membership lapse or downgrading to basic.â
It seems to be the same in Canada. (Sample size of 2 people.)
MacRumors: Netflix No Longer Allowing Subscribers to Pay Through Appleâs App Store
Though Netflix stopped allowing customers to subscribe to its streaming service on iOS devices way back in 2018, it has allowed customers that were already subscribed that way to continue using in-app purchase to pay. Payment through Appleâs platform is set to stop, however, because Netflix does not want to continue to pay Apple a 15 percent cut of those subscription fees.
This pretty much seals their fate with us.
Last Updated: 26.Feb.2024 20:30 EST
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