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☆ A college is removing its vending machines after a student discovered they were using facial recognition technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A university in Canada is expected to remove a series of vending machines from campus after a student discovered a sign they used facial recognition technology. The smart vending machines at the University of Waterloo first gained attention this month when Reddit user SquidKid47 shared a photo. Stanley investigated the smart vending machines, discovering that they're provided by Adaria Vending Services and manufactured by Invenda Group. Canadian publication CTV News reported that Mars, owner of M&M's, owns the vending machines. AdvertisementIn response to the student publication's report, the director of technology services for Adaria Vending Services told MathNEWS that "an individual person cannot be identified using the technology in the machines."

Persons: SquidKid47, Stanley, MathNEWS, Adaria, MathNews, we've, Rebecca Elming, TikTok Organizations: University of Waterloo, Business, University, Waterloo, Ars Technica, Adaria Vending Services, Invenda Group, CTV News, Data, Invenda, Guardian, DePaul University Locations: Canada, China

☆ Do we simply not care about older adults in the US?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Judith Graham | Kff Health News | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

KFF Health News —The Covid-19 pandemic would be a wake-up call for America, advocates for the elderly predicted: incontrovertible proof that the nation wasn’t doing enough to care for vulnerable older adults. Around 900,000 older adults have died of Covid-19 to date, accounting for 3 of every 4 Americans who have perished in the pandemic. Many seniors at high risk aren’t getting antiviral therapies for Covid, and most older adults in nursing homes aren’t getting updated vaccines. The pandemic made things worsePrejudice against older adults is nothing new, but “it feels more intense, more hostile” now than previously, said Karl Pillemer, 69, a professor of psychology and gerontology at Cornell University. But as a society, we don’t value older adults or the people who care for them,” said Robert Kramer, 74, co-founder and strategic adviser at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.

Persons: —, ”, Alice Bonner, I’m, Karl Pillemer, “, ’, ’ ”, Andrew Achenbaum, Achenbaum, Covid, Edwin Walker, Robert Kramer, Kramer, John Rowe, Anne Montgomery, Allen Power, ” Power, it’s “, ” Pillemer Organizations: Health, America, CDC, Institute for Healthcare, gerontology, Cornell University, Texas Medical Center, Aging, Department of Health, Human Services, National Investment Center, Seniors Housing & Care, ”, Columbia University’s Mailman, of Public Health, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, Schlegel, University of Waterloo Research Institute, National Academy of Medicine’s, Healthy, University of Southern, Cornell, Kaiser Health, KFF Locations: Houston, Canada, University of Southern California

☆ EVs need new and improved tires. These 7 companies are reinventing them for the electric era.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Andrew Moseman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Drivers must keep track of their condition because driving on old, bald tires is a disaster waiting to happen. And disposing of or recycling millions of old tires around the world is a dirty business in dire need of new solutions. For eco-minded users, Treads promises to recycle all your old tires and donate a percentage of profits to atmospheric carbon removal. SailunLocation: ChinaSailun is not a startup, but an established Chinese tire company. Sailun says the rubber compound in its ERange electric vehicle tires has a lower rolling resistance compared to ordinary tires.

Persons: —, James Dyson, It's, Tyromer, Michigan's, TyreFlow, Sailun, Andrew Moseman Organizations: Service, Smart Tire, NASA's Glenn Research Center, Smart Tire Company, NASA, Program, Hyundai, Kia, British, Planet Fund, Imperial College London, University of Waterloo, Discount Locations: Los Angeles , California, London, Ontario, Canada, Plymouth , Michigan, Texas, Park City , Utah, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S, China

☆ As Earth’s temperature rises, so do deaths among people with mental health problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Patrick Hogan | Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But there’s another group for whom the climate crisis is a potentially lethal threat — people with mental health problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or anxiety. People with certain mental health problems are more at risk for experiencing the dangers of the climate crisis, experts say. Lifestyle habits important for managing mental health symptoms can also take a hit. Warm temperatures can also interfere with sleep, an important factor for managing mental health symptoms, experts said. And climate disasters are certainly a stress.”Homelessness is also high among people with mental health conditions, especially in the schizophrenic population.

Persons: ”, Robert Feder, —, Peter Crank, Joshua Wortzel, Feder, ” Feder, Wortzel, “, ” It’s, What’s, ” Wortzel, you’re Organizations: CNN, Psychiatric, Medical Society, Health, “, University of Waterloo, Bradley Hospital, Brown University Locations: British Columbia, New Hampshire, Canada, Rhode Island

The bestselling spiritual author and one-time advisor to Oprah Winfrey didn’t make it to the 2020 primaries in a wide-open Democratic field. But Williamson worries that negative perceptions detract from her policy positions, which include financial reparations for Black Americans and creation of a Department of Peace. “The way to sell books is by going on a book tour, not a presidential campaign," she said. Williamson talks at times in religious and spiritual terms to describe America as a nation in need of confession and atonement. "To say, ‘We need a politics of love’ without explaining what that is,” he said.

Persons: Marianne Williamson, Oprah Winfrey, Joe Biden, Williamson, ” Williamson, it’s, ”, Oprah, “, Issac Bailey, “ I’m, Bernie Sanders ’, “ cringeworthy, Donald Trump, Galen Watts, Biden, Jose Serna, Serna, Marianne, Marie Griffith, Louis, ” Griffith, Jay Michaelson, Michaelson Organizations: Democratic, Black, Department of Peace, Davidson College, University of Waterloo, Williamson, Augustana University, Washington University, America, ”, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: America, New York City, Houston, North Carolina, California, Canada, Sioux Falls , South Dakota, St

☆ As Instacart goes public, it's no victory lap for founder Apoorva Mehta
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Mehta was replaced as CEO of Instacart in July 2021 following a messy dispute with some of the company's largest investors. Instacart Founder Apoorva Mehta in his 2003 yearbook photo from Westdale Secondary School. The app started gaining momentum and Mehta put out ads on Craigslist for shoppers to do the grocery runs for him. Whole Foods reportedly broke the news to Mehta and a fellow Instacart executive on an early morning call. In a sworn affidavit, Mehta denies that he misappropriated any trade secrets and says he's since cut ties with Singh.

Persons: Apoorva Mehta, Mehta, Safeway Mehta, Hamilton Public Library Mehta, Bing Gordon, Kleiner Perkins, Gordon, he'd, Garry Tan, Tan, Garry, Andreessen Horowitz, catapulting Mehta, Forbes, Instacart, Mike Moritz, Fidji Simo, Simo, That's, Mehta's, he's, Tejasvi, Singh, Sam Bankman, NextMed, it's Organizations: Instacart, Safeway, Westdale Secondary, Hamilton Public Library, The University of Waterloo, Amazon, NPR, Electronic Arts, YC, TechCrunch, Sequoia Capital, Khosla Ventures, Forbes, Foods, Costco, Kroger, Facebook, Sunrise Locations: India, Libya, Hamilton , Ontario, Toronto, Seattle, San Francisco, wallowing, Sequoia, Mehta's, Marin County

☆ Record heat meets record wildfires in Canada, and scientists say this is the new reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

"This is the new reality, not the new normal, because we're on a downward spiral," Flannigan told CNBC. "The current wildfire season in Canada has been astounding and record breaking," Dahl told CNBC. "I'm not sure where we're going to end up with this because it keeps keeps on burning," Flannigan told CNBC. "The warmer it gets, the atmosphere gets more efficient at sucking the moisture out of the fuels," Flannigan told CNBC. For example, the mountain pine beetle is killing trees and turning them into fuel for wildfires, Burch told CNBC.

Persons: Kristina Dahl, Michael Flannigan, it's, Flannigan, Dahl, We're, I'm, Hope, we've, I've, Sarah Burch, Burch, David Dee Delgado, It's, You've, we're Organizations: BC, Service, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Union of Concerned, CNBC, Thompson Rivers University British Columbia, Natural Resources, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Fort, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Canadian Forest Service, University of Waterloo, Waterloo Climate Institute Locations: Lake, British Columbia, Canada, Natural Resources Canada, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine, Northwest Territories, North America, Alberta, Waterloo, New York City, United States

☆ Opinion: We’re going in the wrong direction on online harassment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Opinion Kara Alaimo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Last week, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that makes it harder to hold people responsible for harassment. So it’s clearly urgent for institutions to strike the right balance in protecting the free speech of critics without allowing them to chill the free speech of those with whom they disagree. It sends a symbolic message that protecting freedom of speech requires tolerating lower-level harassment speech, which often intimidates speakers into silencing themselves. Free speech is crucial to academic discourse, but something is wrong with a statement of “free speech” that allows courses to be censored due to online harassment of their instructors. The Supreme Court’s newly declared permissiveness toward online harassment is only likely to embolden more of it.

Persons: Kara Alaimo, Coles Whalen, ” Kara Alaimo, Rebecca Journey, Daniel Schmidt, Schmidt, Journey, ” Schmidt, “, — Organizations: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Women, Press, CNN, University of Chicago, ”, Twitter, University, The New York Times, University of Waterloo, Facebook, Court Locations: Chicago, Canada

☆ University of Waterloo, Canada: A professor and 2 students were stabbed during class, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Joe Sutton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A professor and two students were stabbed during a gender studies class at the University of Waterloo in Canada on Wednesday, and one person is in custody, authorities said. A male suspect walked into a university lecture classroom and stabbed the three victims with a knife, Waterloo Regional Police spokesperson Cherri Greeno told CNN. It’s unclear whether the suspect is connected to the university or if he personally knew any of the victims. Greeno said the classroom holds about 20 people and it’s unclear how many students were in the class, a philosophy class on gender studies, at the time of the attack. All other campus operations will proceed as usual,” the University of Waterloo tweeted Wednesday.

Persons: Cherri Greeno, Greeno, – Organizations: CNN, University of Waterloo, Waterloo Regional Police, Waterloo Locations: Canada, Toronto

☆ Private jets get a bad rap. Jetex is trying to make them greener
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Rym Bendimerad | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Because they often travel shorter distances than commercial jets, private jets are generally less efficient, and their emissions per passenger are much higher. According to data from European non-profit Transport and Environment, private jets can be five to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes, and 50 times more polluting than trains. Yet the private aviation sector has seen considerable growth in recent years. EVTOL aircraft have a more limited range than private jets, and would be used for short flights around and between cities – which, in the future, could be an eco-friendlier option for the many celebrities who’ve been criticized for traveling short distances in their private jets. “We are seeing some really exciting innovations coming from private aviation,” said Dr. Kearns.

☆ I've been building popular tech products like Tome since I became my family's breadwinner at 15 years old. I've learned you never know how people are going to use your creation.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Keith Peiris is the co-founder of Tome, a storytelling tool that uses generative AI models like GPT-4 and Dall-E-2. At the same time, I also learned that no one uses your tools the way you envisioned. The truth is that everyone uses tools differently, so you need to build them in a permissive way. When we started building Tome in the early days of the pandemic, my cofounder, Henri Liriani, and I thought we were building for someone we knew. Now, they're using Tome, which is a use case I had never even thought about.

☆ The hat: Mathematicians invent 'einstein' tile that never repeats
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Called “The hat” because it vaguely resembles a fedora, the elusive shape is an “einstein” (from the German “ein stein,” or “one stone”). “I’m not really into math, to be honest — I did it at school, but I didn’t excel in it,” Smith said. “The hat,” however, is an aperiodic tile, meaning it can still completely cover a surface without any gaps, but you can never identify any cluster that periodically repeats itself to do so. How ‘The hat’ worksThere’s nothing inherently magical about “The hat,” according to Kaplan. “We’re not trying to protect it in any way,” Kaplan said.

☆ A laid-off Google engineer describes losing his 'only career' 16 years after starting as an intern
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An Ex-Googler described being laid off 16 years after he started as an intern. "Google has been my one and only career," Joel Leitch wrote in a LinkedIn post. The things that I will miss most are the people and the relationships built," Leitch wrote in the post. Leitch and Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours. Leitch isn't alone in taking to LinkedIn after losing his job in the layoffs that have swept the tech industry.

☆ Mark Cuban has 4 rules for making money—No. 4 is: 'Know your s--t better than anyone else in the room'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Mark Cuban says anyone can become a millionaire by following his four rules of success. "Selling isn't about convincing, it's about helping," Cuban told the School of Hard Knocks in a TikTok. "When you walk into a room, you [need to] know your s--t better than anyone else in the room," he said. That lesson may be why Cuban seems confident enough in his four rules to stake his own livelihood on it. "I would get a job as a bartender at night, and a sales job during the day, and I would start working," Cuban said.

Canada now expects to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, up 4% from a previous target, and 485,000 in 2024, up 7.5%. "This year's immigration levels plan will help businesses find the workers they need," said Fraser in a statement. He added the new targets would also allow Canada to fulfil commitments to help those fleeing violence and war in their home countries. A record number of Canadians are now retiring, hastening a mass exodus of Canada's most highly skilled workers and leaving businesses scrambling. In a statement on Tuesday, the Business Council of Canada called for "bolder targets" in economic immigration.

There is no evidence that any school has deployed litter boxes for students to use because they identify as cats. The rumor of litter boxes in schools appears to have begun among parents on social media, and one of the first schools to confront the falsehood was in Canada last fall. Catalina Lauf, a Republican congressional nominee in Illinois, tweeted this month that schoolchildren were using litter boxes in her state. Some say litter boxes are located in “transgender bathrooms” in schools. Meanwhile on TikTok, one video claiming “kids are now requesting litter boxes at school” collected 3 million views on the platform.

☆ I've won $3 million in my 7 years as a pro poker player, but it's not a life that I would ever recommend — it's a hard way to make easy money
▼ + stars: | 2021-12-30 | by ( Xuan Liu | As Told To Jenny Powers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Since we were all a bunch of super competitive analytical type students, the school was a hotbed for poker players. From 2010 to 2017, I earned $3 million playing live and online tournaments (online under the name xx23xx). From an outsider's perspective, it may seem glamorous, but poker is also mentally and physically drainingLiu with fellow players at a poker tournament. By 2017, I didn't like the trajectory my life was heading, so after a brief marriage to a fellow player, I left the circuit to live life at a slower pace in Vancouver. Now that live events are back, I'm getting back into poker in different waysI'm doing live poker tournament commentating work in English and Mandarin because there's a broader international audience these days.

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