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☆ Trump’s comments about Harris’ race kicks off a new – yet familiar – chapter in the 2024 presidential campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Wednesday’s interview-turned-confrontation with reporters at a convention of Black journalists in Chicago made perfectly clear that nothing has changed. Trump’s remarks, he told donors in Maine Wednesday, put on display “a worse version of an already horrible person.”But he also cautioned against focusing too narrowly on the former president’s words. His reaction – his attack on Harris – was largely unprompted and strayed from the reporters’ line of questioning. North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer took a different tack, dismissing Trump’s remarks as “satire,” but also suggesting it was “not wise” politically to raise the issue. He promised he’s gonna have a woman of color.”Biden pledged to choose a woman as his running mate in 2020, not a woman of color.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, “, Trump, Harris, Rachel Scott, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Joe Biden, –, Obama, Kamala, ” Trump, Alina Habba, ”, boisterously, Barack Obama, White supremacists, Harris –, Trump’s MAGA, “ Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Biden, Harris ’, Doug Emhoff, Trump’s, can’t, Hannibal Lecter, ” Emhoff, … that’s, ” Harris, J.B . Pritzker, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Harris “, Arizona Sen, Mark Kelly, he’s, ” Kelly, Vance, ” Vance, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, “ California’s Kamala Harris, ” Rubio, Dakota Sen, Kevin Cramer, ” Cramer, ” Biden Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Republican, GOP, ABC, –, Trump, Indian, National Association of Black Journalists, Washington Post, Capitol, Associated Press Locations: Chicago, Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Charlottesville , Virginia, Indian, Oakland, Indian American, Houston, Maine, Illinois, Arizona, Florida, American, Trump’s, Dakota

☆ Online Health Providers Are Making Money on Young Men's Sense of Shame
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The pandemic accelerated the rise of telehealth, which these DTC companies are a part of both culturally and legally. Hims & Hers Health has a market cap of over $4 billion. Those at the forefront of the DTC health revolution have American guys right where they want them: insecure, on edge, and ready to open their wallets. Plenty of doctors have sounded the alarm about DTC telehealth companies, and some firms have gotten into legal trouble, too. For all the issues with DTC companies, it's fair to note that traditional healthcare settings are far from perfect.

Persons: Paul, he'd, who's, He's, doesn't, Nobody, didn't, Matthew McCoy, what's, Ashwini Nagappan, Joshua Halpern, Halpern, Nagappan, McCoy, Hims, —, you've, They're, men's, Ro, Emily Stewart Organizations: View Research, Department of Medical, University of Pennsylvania, UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, telemedicine, of Justice, Business Locations: Hims

☆ Columbia Removes Three Deans, Saying Texts Touched on ‘Antisemitic Tropes’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Katherine Rosman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Three Columbia University administrators have been removed from their posts after sending text messages that “disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes” during a forum about Jewish issues in May, according to a letter sent by Columbia officials to the university community on Monday. The administrators are still employed by the university but have been placed on indefinite leave and will not return to their previous jobs. Nemat Shafik, the Columbia president, described the sentiments in the text messages as “unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community.” She said the messages were “antithetical to our university’s values and the standards.”The announcement came about a month after a conservative website published photos that showed some of the text messages sent by the administrators.

Persons: Nemat Shafik Organizations: Columbia University, Columbia

☆ Columbia removes three deans from power for ‘very troubling’ antisemitic text messages
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Columbia University announced Monday it has permanently removed three deans from their posts after finding they engaged in “very troubling” text messages that touched on antisemitic tropes. “The incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” Shafik said in the Monday statement. However, Columbia signaled that a fourth official involved in the text messages, Josef Sorett, the dean of Columbia College, is staying in power after apologizing and taking responsibility. On Monday Sorett sent a message to Columbia College students apologizing for his actions. Last week, Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, demanded Columbia hold the three officials accountable and revealed images of the group text exchange.

Persons: Minouche Shafik, disturbingly, ” Shafik, Angela Olinto, ”, ” “, ” Olinto, Josef Sorett, Monday Sorett, “, Virginia Foxx, ” Foxx Organizations: CNN — Columbia University, Columbia, CNN, Columbia College, House Education, Workforce Committee

☆ It took a woman 3 years and cost her $200K to kick a tenant out of her LA home. She says she cried when she saw the bloody mess he left.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementImages provided to BI appear to show blood-stained floors, cracked countertops, and, disturbingly, a life-sized human dummy. An image provided to Business Insider appears to show a human dummy alongside packets of zip ties in Alison Weinsweig's apartment. Kohanim left the property in April, but Weinsweig alleges that her former tenant has yet to return the keys or fob. AdvertisementA photograph provided by Alison Weinsweig appears to show blood on the floor of the bathroom in her apartment. Other images provided to BI also appear to show a life-sized dummy on the bathroom floor, next to zip-tie packets.

Persons: —, Alison Weinsweig, I'd, Weinsweig, Alison Weinsweig's, Ramin, Kohanim, didn't Organizations: Service, Business, BI, LA, Superior, Weinsweig Locations: Wilshire, Pennsylvania, California, Los Angeles, Weinsweig

☆ Drones have turned the tables in recent African wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Drones recently supplied to Sudan by Iran are already making an impact in that country's brutal civil war. Similar types of drones played decisive roles in turning the tables in two previous African civil wars in recent years and could do so again. "It should come as no surprise that these drones are being used in wars around the world," Rogers told BI. In this context, drones are useful to achieve specific objectives, but they will not win the war alone," Rogers said. RANE's Dodd also credited Ethiopia's drone procurements for decisively "turning the tide" of the Tigray War.

Persons: —, Remi Dodd, RANE, it's, Dodd, James Patton Rogers, Rogers, Turkey's TB2, Loong, Debretsion Gebremichael, RANE's Dodd Organizations: Service, Business, Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces, United, Ethiopian, Tigray, Libyan National Army, Cornell Brooks Tech, Institute, Cornell University, American Warfare, Anadolu, Getty, Democratic Locations: Sudan, Iran, Iranian, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Libya, Tripoli, Omdurman, Tehran, Red, Yemen, Ukraine, Tigray War, Tigray, Addis Ababa, Ukrainian, New York, Donetsk, Nigeria, DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso

☆ AI is not ready for primetime
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, have been alleged to violate copyright. That’s not stopping Big Tech companies and AI firms, which continue to hook consumers and businesses on new features and capabilities. “Access to major generative AI systems in widespread use is controlled by a few companies,” said Venkatasubramanian, noting that these systems easily make errors and can produce damaging content. He believes bolder reforms may be necessary too, such as taxing AI companies to fund social safety nets. For now, current day generative AI users must understand the limitations and challenges of using products that are still quite far from where they need to be.

Persons: ”, Taylor Swift, Joe Biden, Mandel Ngan, That’s, OpenAI, Elon Musk, Elon Musk Gonzalo Fuentes, ” Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Venkatasubramanian, ” Arvind Narayanan, CNN he’s, Narayanan, “, ChatGPT, Bard –, haven’t, ” Gemini, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN, Chamber, Getty, Big Tech, Microsoft, Google, Reuters, Brown University, “, White, Office of Science, Technology, Management, Executive, Princeton, “ Tech Locations: Washington ,, AFP, New Hampshire

☆ Apple has been 'disturbingly quiet' about AI and smartphones, IDC says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailApple has been 'disturbingly quiet' about AI and smartphones, IDC saysBryan Ma of the International Data Corporation discusses the competition over artificial intelligence in the smartphone market.

Persons: Bryan Ma Organizations: Apple, IDC, International Data Corporation

☆ Grocery Prices, Inflation and ‘Bad Vibes’ - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Yes, grocery prices are up a lot, but not nearly as much as some people claim, and the big surge is behind us. After all, I remember the inflation truthers of the early 2010s, who refused to believe that their predictions that easy money would cause runaway inflation had been wrong, and insisted instead that the government must be cooking the books. For whatever reason, however, the vehemence — and sheer silliness — of the grocery truthers took me by surprise. And maybe I can use this moment to show why that’s a bad idea. I know that it was less, but off the top of my head I can’t tell you by what percentage.

Persons: We’ve

☆ Mark Zuckerberg has entered his Posting Era
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Mark Zuckerberg put out an Instagram video reviewing the Apple Vision Pro this week. AdvertisementHaving not personally tested both devices, I am not fully qualified to judge whether Mark Zuckerberg's video review accurately compares Apple's Vision Pro to the Meta Quest 3. Mark Zuckerberg has entered his Posting Era. I don't attempt to think too hard about Mark Zuckerberg's inner life, but I don't get the sense that what we're seeing is a window into his soul. What I see now is something I never thought might happen: Mark Zuckerberg is getting high on his own supply.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's, He's, —, Mark Zuckerberg's, We've, Zuckerberg, it's, Priscilla, Mark, I've, Andrew, Boz, Bosworth, Steve Ballmer, poopooed, Ping, Cook, Elon, Zuckerberg's, Apple, It's, Tim Cook, Meta Organizations: Apple Vision, Service, Meta, Vision, Morning, Vision Pro, Microsoft, Apple, Apple's, Facebook, iTunes Locations: TikTok

☆ 'Saltburn' star Barry Keoghan says everyone was silent after he improvised the graveyard scene: 'No one spoke for a bit'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read preview"Saltburn" star Barry Keoghan's shocking improvised graveyard scene left the crew speechless on set. "I think no one spoke for a bit," Keoghan said in the latest installment of Esquire's "Explain This" video series. AdvertisementJacob Elordi as Felix and Barry Keoghan as Oliver in "Saltburn." "I spoke to Barry in the morning, and I just said, 'I don't know, Barry. Barry Keoghan as Oliver in "Saltburn."

Persons: —, Barry Keoghan's, Keoghan, Oliver Quick, Felix Catton, Jacob Elordi, Oliver, Felix, Barry Keoghan, Chiabella James, Fennell, Barry Organizations: Service, Business, Oxford University, Entertainment, MGM, Amazon Studios, Variety, Golden Globes Locations: Saltburn

Through her sobs, she said she heard the coroner’s office worker give two details that she thought couldn’t possibly be true. In a court filing, the coroner’s office denied negligence in the Pfantz case. “When I post on NamUs, I am saying the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has failed, and I need your help,” Yates said. “Why was he left in the coroner’s office for three and a half months to just rot?” Pendar said in an interview. The county agency, like most of California’s coroner’s offices, does not post the names of unclaimed dead to NamUs.

Persons: America’s, ”, Erin Kimmerle, “, Bettersten Wade, Dexter Wade, he’d, Marrio Moore, Moore’s, Jonathan Hankins, who’d, Benjamin Pfantz, Craig Mulcahy, aren’t, Michelle Clark, who’s, ’, William Swanton, William Swanton's, Swanton, Catherine Swanton, William Swanton’s, Kimmerle, Sherry Pfantz, Theron, wasn’t, Pfantz, couldn’t, ” Pfantz, Theron Pfantz, They’d, NBC News Sherry Pfantz, she’d, hadn’t, Benjamin L, —, Dwight McKenna, ” “, ” Theron Pfantz, McKenna, ” McKenna, “ It’s, Richard Trahant, ” Trahant, Sherry, NamUs, Benjamin, ” Craig Mulcahy, coroners, Chuck Heurich, Heurich, ” Heurich, ” Leford “, ” Williams, Dawit, Leford Williams, Leford “, Williams, LJ Williams, Geneva Gee, Gee, ” Gee, wouldn't, NBC News Williams, Sinai Beth Israel, Bill Yates, Yates, ” Yates, Malong Pendar, Njawa, Pendar, “ We’re, Pendar’s, “ We’ve Organizations: NBC, University of South, NBC News, Crime Information, Google, Coroner's, NamUs, Medical, Orleans Parish Coroner’s, New, Orleans, New Orleans City, City Council, “, National Institute of Justice, New York City’s, York City’s, Coroner’s, Medical Examiner, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County Medical Locations: Louisiana, Michigan, California, America, University of South Florida, Jackson , Mississippi, Hinds, Jackson, Hinds County, Orleans, New Orleans, Mississippi, NamUs, Connecticut, Oregon, Philadelphia, Rhode, Orleans Parish, Beauregard Parish, New, New York City, New York, Sinai, York, Jefferson County , Alabama, Birmingham, Jefferson, Santa Clara , California, Santa Clara County

☆ UK Interior Minister Suella Braverman fired after she accused London police of political bias
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman attends the weekly government cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street on May 23, 2023 in London, England. LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday fired controversial Interior Minister Suella Braverman, as he begins a reshuffle of his top cabinet. In a shock move, former Prime Minister David Cameron was announced as the new foreign minister. "While I have been out of front-line politics for the last seven years, I hope that my experience – as Conservative Leader for eleven years and Prime Minister for six – will assist me in helping the Prime Minister to meet these vital challenges." Braverman drew widespread criticism last week after printing an op-ed in The Times newspaper that ignored guidance from Downing Street and accused London police of political bias in policing protests.

Persons: Suella Braverman, Rishi Sunak, James Cleverley, David Cameron, Cameron, Braverman, Liz Truss, Israel's, Sunak, Conservative frontbencher Paul Bristow Organizations: Downing, LONDON, Monday, Braverman, Home, Conservative, The Times, London, Palestine, CNBC, Palestinian, Hamas, Department for Science, Innovation, Technology, Conservative Party, Labour Party Locations: London, England, Ukraine, Northern Ireland, Gaza

☆ Mississippi Sheriff Whose Deputies Tortured Black People Is Reelected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey won reelection after running unopposed. Bailey refused to resign after five Rankin sheriff's deputies were convicted of torturing Black men. Those deputies called themselves the "Goon Squad" for their willingness to use excessive force. Rankin County, home to several Jackson suburbs, is the largest county in Mississippi, with a population of almost 160,000, according to the US Census. Five were deputies for the Rankin County Sheriff's Office, and one was an officer for the Richland Police Department.

Persons: Sheriff Bryan Bailey, Bailey, Rankin, —, — Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Daniel Opdyke, Joshua Hartfield —, Michael Corey Jenkins, Eddie Terrell Parker, Elward, Jenkins, Angela English, Bailey's Undersheriff Paul Holley, Jason Dare, Tate Reeves Organizations: NAACP, Service, Sheriff's Office, Richland Police Department, The New York Times, Mississippi Today Locations: Rankin, Mississippi, Rankin County, Jackson, Braxton , Mississippi

☆ Candy corn is polarizing. Here’s how Brach’s is trying to keep it relevant
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Brach’s, a candy brand which dates back to 1904, says it is the leader in the candy corn market by far. Brach's candy corn. One constant that has helped candy corn stay relevant: The ongoing debate about whether candy corn is a great holiday treat or to be avoided. In 2020, Brach’s launched the so-called Turkey Dinner candy corn — a bag filled with candy corn in different flavors, some more appetizing than others. Last year, singer Michelle Williams teamed up with the brand on a promotional song about the candy called “Candy Corn Love.” And this year, the brand announced a candy corn club, saying it would select 100 members to receive free boxes of candy corn throughout the year, with merchandise and new products.

Persons: it’s, Katie Duffy, Laffy, doesn’t, Brach’s, Michelle Williams, Duffy, ”, Heather Martin, Martin, Candy, Wrigley, we’ve, Travis, Jason Kelce, Jason, Travis Kelce, ” Duffy, Taylor Swift’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Ferrara Candy Company, Washington Post, Washington, Getty Im, PepsiCo, Hershey, Professional Locations: New York, Ferrara, NIQ, Turkey

☆ Opinion: If only Trump’s Mandela comparison were the most outrageous thing he’s said
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Opinion Jill Filipovic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —This week, at a campaign stop in New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump compared himself to Nelson Mandela. It doesn’t take a whole lot of historical knowledge to know that Trump is no Nelson Mandela. And anyone who has the gall and the gargantuan ego to compare themselves to Nelson Mandela is probably no Nelson Mandela. Trump made the Mandela comparison because he is facing so many criminal charges, which he says are politically motivated. “I don’t mind being Nelson Mandela, because I’m doing it for a reason,” he told his New Hampshire audience.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nelson Mandela, Jill Filipovic, Trump, ”, Mandela, ” Michael Cohen, statesmanlike, stokes, Barack Obama, Obama, reasserting, Benjamin Netanyahu, wouldn’t, it’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, New, South Africa’s, America Locations: New Hampshire, South Africa, South, Gaza, Israel, America

☆ The same family of bears won't stop wrecking trail cameras — and have been caught in the act 5 times on video
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The same family of black bears in Voyageurs National Park won't stop messing with trail cameras. The Voyageurs Wolf Project said the bears have attacked their cameras five times in the past year. The family has been caught on video messing with trail cameras at a remote beaver pond on five separate occasions over the past year. Thomas Gable, project lead at the Voyageurs Wolf Project, told Insider bears have both knocked over and actually destroyed their trail cameras. "That said, we have had many trail cameras that bears have completely destroyed by chewing on them."

Persons: —, deviants, Thomas Gable, Gable, it's, Blair Wolf Organizations: Voyageurs, Voyageurs Wolf Project, Service, Minnesota's Voyageurs National, Voyageurs Wolf, University of Minnesota, Facebook Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Opinion | Shakespeare’s ‘Sublimely, Disturbingly Smutty Effect’ Must Endure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Drew Lichtenberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Throughout the play the Roman warrior Coriolanus is alternately drawn toward and repelled by his military rival Aufidius. He dreams of Coriolanus nightly, and the two are locked in mortal combat, a fight to the death, mutually assured destruction. — Iago, “Othello,” Act 1, Scene 1I taught this play every summer for almost 20 years to first-generation American high school students. My students learned that Shakespeare’s 17th-century Italy held some of the same societal evils as their 21st century. — Rachel D. Smith, 19, New York CityDrew: Here we see how Shakespeare uses rhythms and interlocking wordplay to sublimely, disturbingly smutty effect.

Persons: Drew, “, ”, Cocteau, Genet, Aufidius, Freud, —, Iago, Tom Buchanan, — Alden Mauck, Brabantio, Shakespeare, CRUDITY Katherine, Katherine : Ay, Rachel D, Smith, Katherine Organizations: New York City Drew Locations: Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Africa, Italy, Newton, New

☆ A hidden consequence of the gig economy is that workers keep asking customers for sex or dates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Businesses in food and parcel delivery often rely on large numbers of gig-economy workers. The UK's data watchdog found some of these workers are propositioning customers. "People have the right to order a pizza [...] without then being asked for sex," a watchdog said. A growing number of firms, particularly in delivery, transport, or logistics, rely on gig economy or contract workers. One consequence is that sensitive customer information, such as phone numbers and addresses, is accessible to casual workers.

Persons: Emily Keaney, Keaney Organizations: Service, ICO, Etihad Airways, Guardian Locations: Wall, Silicon, London

☆ Opinion: The shattering aftermath in Maui
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —The Polynesian demigod Maui was so powerful he could raise islands up from the ocean floor and capture the sun to slow it down. We know Lahaina will be rebuilt, and the government response — city, state and federal — will be a huge part of that. “You can beat the drum of ‘women’s rights’ and defend tooth-and-nail women’s sports, so long as you only do so to denigrate trans women.”For more on the World Cup:Shaista Aziz: This Women’s World Cup has been unlike any other. That’s a great thingAmy Bass: The US loss at the Women’s World Cup sends a clear messageBill Bramhall/Tribune Content AgencyLet’s make a deal? In a country where federal prosecutors overwhelmingly win their cases, Trump’s odds of going to trial and winning both federal cases are slim — and he may face similarly daunting odds in the other cases.

Persons: Bill Weir, Jeff Melichar, ” Clay Jones, Melichar, “, Shaw, Naka Nathaniel, Kaua’i “, ”, ALICE, Lawrence Downes, ” Drew Sheneman, Peter Bergen, Laura Tillman, ” “, David Petraeus, ” Bergen, Tillman, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, ” Mary Ziegler, ” Ziegler, Roe, Patrick T, Brown, Wade, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, “ Biden, Julian Zelizer, ” Dana Summers, Donald Trump, Podcaster Megyn Kelly, “ I’m, Nicole Hemmer, Megan “ Rapinoe, Kelly, Shaista Aziz, Amy Bass, Bill Bramhall, Will Handelsman, it’s, Trump, William D, Cohan, Puck, David Rubenstein, Scott Galloway, Jill Filipovic, “ Trump, Galloway, pardoning, ” Filipovic, …, Jesus, Kelli Rhee, Rhee, ” Don’t, Drew Sheneman, Agency Brian Elmore, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Adam Kinzinger, Ukraine Aanchal Saraf, Rebecca H, Oppenheimer’s, Joseph, I’ll, Neil J, Holly Thomas, Sara Stewart, “ Oppenheimer, Christopher, “ Barbie, “ Barbie ”, ” Stewart Organizations: CNN, Coast Guard, Honolulu Civil, ‘, Aloha, New York Times, …, Agency, UN, Republican, GOP, ”, Republicans, Democratic, Federal, FIFA, US, National Soccer Team, New York University, Trump, Arnold Ventures, Ukraine Aanchal, Warner Bros . Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Naka, Hilo, Kaua’i, Afghanistan, Afghanistan’s, Kabul, Ohio, California , Vermont, Michigan, Georgia, Trump, Ukraine

☆ Fact Check-Photos of Florida sunburn competition are fake
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

There is no evidence of a sunburn contest in Florida, and photos from a so-called extreme sunburn competition in online posts are not authentic. Examples of online posts on Aug. 3 and 4 sharing photos of people with burns from an “extreme sunburn competition in Florida” can be seen (here) and (here). The “Cursed AI” Facebook group notes in its description that content on the page is AI-generated (here). Reuters has contacted the account that posted the photos in the Cursed AI group for comment. The photos were shared on a Facebook page made for AI-generated content, and there is no evidence of such a sunburn competition in Florida.

Persons: Read Organizations: Reuters Locations: Florida

☆ The Texas Heat Dome Shows an Exhausting Glimpse of the Future - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Jeff Goodell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The heat dome made visible the barbarity of the state’s political leadership. Despite the state’s massive budget surplus, many Texas prisons remain without air-conditioning, turning cells into torture chambers on hot days. Around me, people drank iced coffees and bottled water, seemingly unconcerned as the heat outside beat down mercilessly. At the height of the Texas heat wave, the official Twitter account for a Texas university football team featured a video of a fully suited player running sprints while dragging a heavy chain. “Working in that Texas heat,” the tweet boasted, followed by a fire emoji.

Persons: I’d, Greg Abbott, Abbott’s Organizations: Texans, Texas Locations: Gulf, me, India, Pakistan, Texas, Austin

☆ Opinion: The fifth Beatle is artificial intelligence
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Opinion Jere Hester | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Who’s the fifth Beatle? But now there’s a 21st century contender for the honor: artificial intelligence. The band took some flak for releasing two songs years after Lennon’s murder in 1980. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album with trippy loops and other innovations that changed the course of popular music. But in the right hands — in this case, Jackson and McCartney’s — AI can be a tool that wields magic.

Persons: Jere Hester, Craig Newmark, CNN —, Jere Hester John Smock, Sir George Martin, Brian Epstein, Stuart Sutcliffe, Sir Paul McCartney’s, John Lennon’s, Lennon, McCartney, Peter Jackson, ”, Yoko Ono, Lennon’s, Jackson, McCartney’s, Facebook McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ono, George Harrison’s, Olivia, Let’s Organizations: Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY, CNN, BBC Radio, Twitter, Beatles Locations: Liverpool

☆ Opinion | The Eyes of the World Are Upon Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

If Ukraine wins this war, some of its supporters abroad will no doubt be disillusioned to discover the nation’s darker side. Before the war, Ukraine ranked high on measures of perceived corruption — better than Russia, but that’s not saying much. Yet like the flaws of the Allies in World War II, these shadows don’t create any equivalence between the two sides in this war. In reality, while most Americans support aid to Ukraine, only a minority are willing to sustain that aid for as long as it takes. Some of those who oppose Western aid just don’t see the moral equivalence with World War II.

Persons: that’s, Stalin, Vladimir Putin’s, it’s, vociferously Organizations: Ukraine, Allies Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, America, Britain

☆ Someone made a hyper-realistic deepfake of Ron DeSantis as Michael Scott from 'The Office' wearing women's clothes. It's the latest instance of AI being weaponized to take DeSantis down.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A deepfake video of Ron DeSantis as Michael Scott in "The Office" has gone viral on Twitter. Ron DeSantis acting as Michael Scott in an episode of "The Office" is going viral on Twitter, and it's just another example of how artificial intelligence can be weaponized against politicians. The deepfake video features DeSantis' face superimposed on that of Steve Carell's iconic character. The deepfake DeSantis replies indignantly: "No. Trump's camp has launched numerous attacks on DeSantis since he announced his bid — this deepfake video is just the latest example of how AI has been used against DeSantis.

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