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☆ The Silicon Valley investors who secretly bought up $800 million in Northern California real estate reveal unexpected plans for 'a city of yesterday'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Chris Kaye | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A mysterious company backed by Silicon Valley investors has been purchasing land near San Francisco. They're planning to build a retro city on the 52,000 acres of farmland they bought. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Silicon Valley investors that got the government's attention by gobbling up $800 million worth of land outside San Francisco say the mystery city they plan on building is, well… kinda retro. Solano County Google Maps"The plans that people put forward will be very inspired by those great old American neighborhoods that someone who was born 100 years ago will recognize," Sramek told KQED.

Persons: —, we've, Jan Sramek, Sramek, Goldman Sachs, Marc Andreessen, Laurene Powell Jobs, Michael Moritz of, Reid Hoffman, Flannery, who've, Catherine Moy, Moy, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Musk, Chap Ambrose, Ambrose, Azmi Haroun Organizations: Service, KQED, The New York Times, Michael Moritz of Sequoia Capital, Flannery Associates, Travis Air Force Base, Solano County Google, Boring Company, SpaceX, Washington Post Locations: Silicon, San Francisco, California, Solano County, Bay, Fairfield, Solano Silicon, Austin , Texas, Bastrop Country

☆ 3 ways to use AI right now to get ahead—if you do, you're 'really going to succeed,' says expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you're only using artificial intelligence to edit selfies or find dinner recipes, you aren't getting the most out of it. These tools can help you get ahead in your career, according to Sarah Hoffman, VP of AI and machine learning research at Fidelity Investments. She's a particular fan of using ChatGPT, OpenAI's popular generative AI chatbot, in a professional context. In this context, the tool's mistakes and fabrications don't really matter — you're only using it for inspiration. You're establishing a jumping-off point for orienting your brain in the right direction, said Hoffman.

Persons: Sarah Doody, Sarah Hoffman, Hoffman, isn't, ChatGPT Organizations: Fidelity Investments, Fast, Purdue University

The General Assembly has undergone tremendous changes as its influence has waned. What does the General Assembly do? Unlike the U.N. Security Council, which can impose sanctions or authorize the use of force, the General Assembly is purely deliberative. The General Assembly also appoints the U.N. secretary general, currently António Guterres, for five-year terms and the Security Council’s 10 nonpermanent members. Last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine delivered a searing rebuke of the Russian invasion of his country in a recorded address to the General Assembly.

Persons: ”, Peter J, Hoffman, that’s, Dr, “, it’s, Israel, António, Volodymyr Zelensky, Guterres, ’, ” Dr, Indira Gandhi of Organizations: United Nations, Assembly, Security Council, Social Council, BRICS, New School, . Security, United Nations ’, Pacific, General, Sustainable, General Assembly, Security, New Zealand —, Indira Gandhi of India Locations: Manhattan, New York City, United, New York, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, Western Europe, Ukraine, “, South Sudan, Europe, Americas, Australia, North America, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New, ”, Oceania, America

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — What would Bob Ross think? Growing up in a small town, Nelson said he was introduced to art through Ross' show and loves his paintings. “This isn’t an institution that’s telling you that Bob Ross is great. It’s not some high-brow gallery telling you that Bob Ross is great. Nelson bought the painting last year and then gave it a “not for sale” price of $9.85 million, said publicist Megan Hoffman.

Persons: Bob Ross, Ross, ” Ryan Nelson, Nelson, ” Ross —, we’ve, Michelangelo, ” Ross, ”, ” Nelson, It’s, Ross ’, Megan Hoffman, Hoffman, Nelson isn't, “ Ryan, ” Hoffman, “, he's Organizations: PBS Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Minneapolis, perm, Falls Creek , Virginia

☆ Cerebral Valley, the AI conference that spawned a $1.3 billion deal, is coming back to San Francisco this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cerebral Valley, an AI conference run by Eric Newcomer's eponymous publication, just announced its second gathering of 2023. CVAI2 (Cerebral Valley AI Summit version 2.0) will take place on November 15 at the SFJAZZ Center in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. The neighborhood is nicknamed Cerebral Valley these days, due to the plethora of AI startups that have sprouted there. Ali Ghodsi, CEO of Databricks, and Naveen Rao, CEO of MosaicML, met for the first time at the initial Cerebral Valley AI Summit. That's the biggest generative AI startup deal so far, by my counting.

Persons: Vinod Khosla, Reid Hoffman, Adam D'Angelo, Eric Newcomer's, Mustafa Suleyman, Ali Ghodsi, Kanjun Qiu, Chris Lattner, May Habib, Naveen Rao, Jason Warner, Max Child, James Wilsterman, Amjad Masad, Clem Delangue, Emad, Daniela Amodei, Cristobal Valenzuela, Shane Orlick, MosaicML, it's Organizations: SFJAZZ, Service, Industry Locations: Hayes Valley, San Francisco, Wall, Silicon, Jasper

The General Assembly has undergone tremendous changes as its influence has waned. What does the General Assembly do? The General Assembly is one of six bodies in the United Nations, including the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. The General Assembly also appoints the U.N. secretary general, currently António Guterres, for five-year terms and the Security Council’s 10 nonpermanent members. Last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine delivered a searing rebuke of the Russian invasion of his country in a recorded address to the General Assembly.

Persons: ”, Peter J, Hoffman, that’s, Dr, “, it’s, Israel, António, Volodymyr Zelensky, Guterres, ’, ” Dr, Indira Gandhi of Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, Assembly, Security Council, Social Council, BRICS, New School, . Security, United Nations ’, Pacific, General, Sustainable, Security, New Zealand —, Indira Gandhi of India Locations: Manhattan, New York City, United, New York, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, Western Europe, Ukraine, “, South Sudan, Europe, Americas, Australia, North America, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New, ”, Oceania, America

☆ Chance encounter transforms girl from Mumbai slum into teenage model, internet influencer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Hemanshi Kamani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Three years ago an inquisitive American tourist wandered into a waterfront slum in Mumbai and met a tiny, smiley girl. In March, a luxury Indian cosmetics brand Forest Essentials chose Maleesha as the face of its Yuvati campaign celebrating young Indian women. [1/5]Maleesha Kharwa, 15, a model and Instagram Influencer, takes a selfie next to a bus terminal in Mumbai, India, September 11, 2023. Since then, Maleesha has become a social media influencer, using the hashtag 'the princess from the slum' in some of her posts. Reporting by Hemanshi Kamani, writing by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kharwa, Maleesha, Influencer, Hemanshi, Robert Hoffman, Hoffman, Hemanshi Kamani, Tanvi Mehta, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Cosmopolitan India, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Mumbai, India, American

Some creative programming — including shows imported from other countries, competition series and the broadcast arrival of the Paramount Network hit “Yellowstone” — will round-out gaps in the TV schedule. The limited series also stars Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie and debuts Nov. 2. “The Continental” debuts Sept. 22. SIGNS OF STRIKESThere are also programs coming to TV this fall that are obvious time-fillers to help round out primetime schedules. Fox has leaned in heavily to competition shows.

Persons: “ Abbott, ”, Janine, Gregory, Kim Raver's Dr, Teddy Altman, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Sinclair Daniel, Hazel, Ashleigh Murray, Jesse L, Martin, Dan Ariely’s, “, Jenna Coleman, Victoria, Oliver Jackson, Cohen, Liv, Will doesn't, wasn't, B.E, Jones, Ashley Benson, Eric Balfour, Brie Larson, Bonnie Garmus, Elizabeth, Calvin, Lewis Pullman, Anthony Doerr, Shawn Levy, Marie, Aria Mia Loberti, Werner, Louis Hoffman, Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie, Danai Gurira, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Jon Bernthal, Norman Reedus, Reedus, Daryl Dixon, Daryl, John Wick, Keanu Reeves, John Wick ”, Mel Gibson, Colin Woodell, Ian McShane's, Kelsey Grammer, Frasier Crane, Frasier, “ Scott Pilgrim, Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Kevin Costner's, Sydney ”, They've, Rose McIver, Singer ”, they've, David Spade, Lea Thompson’s “ Spencer, Chad Michael Murray, Scott Patterson —, Hilary Fox Organizations: “, Paramount Network, Hollywood, Hulu, NBC, Apple, Netflix, SPIN, AMC, Godolkin University School of Crimefighting, Paramount, CBS, Sydney, Fox, Forces, ABC, Disney Locations: France, Nazi, Boston, United States, States, Paradise

☆ LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman thinks pausing AI development is 'foolish' and 'anti-humanist'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Reid Hoffman dismissed efforts to pause AI development in an interview at CogX Festival. Hoffman compared the development of AI to cars which also posed many risks and dangers at first. Hoffman pointed to other powerful technologies built in the past as an example of why the letter didn't have a logical basis. AdvertisementAdvertisement"When we built the car, we didn't know about safety belts, we didn't know about window washers, we didn't know about the crumple zone," Hoffman told the audience. Experts are divided on their opinions about the rapid development of AI.

Persons: Reid Hoffman, Elon, Hoffman, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, Pinterest, Evan Sharp, Emad Mostaque, we'd, Eliezer Yudkowsky Organizations: CogX, Service, Apple, Greylock Partners Locations: Wall, Silicon, London, OpenAI

☆ After DH split, Phillies look to trip up Braves again
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Field Level Media | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

September 12 - As the Philadelphia Phillies inch toward a potential second consecutive playoff berth, bullpen success will become even more vital. The Phillies (79-65) will now look for a lead in the four-game series when they host the Braves again on Tuesday. "Our bullpen is gonna be the difference if we win or lose ballgames," Kimbrel told NBC Sports Philadelphia after the game. Following the frustrating loss in the opener, the bullpen was a major reason why the Phillies came up with a split. Edmundo Sosa doubled, singled and knocked in two runs for Philadelphia in the second contest, and Brandon Marsh added a solo homer.

Persons: Jeff Hoffman, Gregory Soto, Matt Strahm, Craig Kimbrel, Soto, Michael Harris II, Kimbrel, Nicky Lopez, We've, Edmundo Sosa, Brandon Marsh, Rob Thomson, Zack Wheeler, Wheeler, Thomson, Matt Olson, Andruw Jones, Olson, Jones, Brian Snitker, he's, He's, Max Fried, Fried Organizations: Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia bullpen, Braves, Phillies, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Philadelphia, San Diego Padres, Atlanta, National League East, Bally Sports, Olson's, St, Louis Cardinals, Thomson Locations: Philadelphia, Atlanta

☆ Some Things Are More Important Than History
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Benjamin Hoffman | More About Benjamin Hoffman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

He didn’t care that it was a no-hitter. He just wanted the Yankees to win. After two innings, I texted a Brewers fan to say I was worried the Yankees would be no-hit. He replied that Milwaukee didn’t have the offense for it to matter. After 10 innings we both looked prophetic, as it was a 0-0 tie and the Yankees had not managed a single hit off Burnes or the relievers Devin Williams and Abner Uribe.

Persons: Wes, Jasson Domínguez, Aaron Judge, Corbin Burnes, National League Cy Young, Devin Williams, Abner Uribe Organizations: Yankees, Yankee, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee, National League, Brewers

☆ Kroger Agrees to Pay $1.2 Billion to Settle Opioid Claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Rebecca Robbins | More About Rebecca Robbins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Background: Pharmacy chains have been settling opioid claims. Three large pharmacy chains that compete with Kroger — Walgreens, CVS Health and Walmart — reached similar settlements last year totaling about $13 billion. The claims against Kroger and its competitors have focused on the role of their pharmacies in flooding communities with legal painkillers. Why It Matters: Opioid settlement money is funding recovery efforts. Kroger said on Friday that the opioid settlement agreement would not impede the merger.

Persons: Kroger, Walmart —, overprescribing, Josh Stein, ”, Harris, Jan Hoffman Organizations: Kroger, Walgreens, CVS Health, Walmart, Rite, Albertsons Locations: Washington State, West Virginia, North Carolina

☆ N.F.L. Week 1 Predictions: Our Picks Against the Spread
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Benjamin Hoffman | More About Benjamin Hoffman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Thursday’s MatchupDetroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m., NBCLine: Chiefs -4.5 | Total: 52.5Kansas City seems to love to play a game within a game: How many players can be taken away before Patrick Mahomes can’t thrive? The speedy receiver Tyreek Hill, as demonstrated last year, was expendable. So were other receivers like Sammy Watkins, DeMarcus Robinson and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The team goes through running backs quickly enough that Mahomes doesn’t need to introduce himself. It was Chicago’s fifth consecutive win against Green Bay in a rivalry that had become decidedly one-sided.

Persons: Patrick Mahomes, Sammy Watkins, DeMarcus Robinson, JuJu Smith, Schuster, Travis Kelce, Kelce, Mahomes’s, Jared Goff, David Montgomery, Jim Harbaugh, Brett Favre Organizations: Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, NBC Line, Chiefs, Super Bowl, Kansas, Lions, Bears, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Fox Line, Packers, Green Locations: Kansas, Kansas City, Green Bay, Wis

☆ Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh fear for future under blockade
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Caolán Magee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —Ani Kirakosyani found out she was pregnant a month after the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh began. “If not for the blockade, I would be playing with my child today,” Kirakosyani told CNN. He told CNN that before the blockade he had received most of his produce from Armenia. I only have one week left until the shop closes and I am jobless,” he told CNN. Meanwhile Russia, which brokered the ceasefire in 2020, has peacekeepers along the Lachin corridor but has refrained from intervening further.

Persons: Ani Kirakosyani, Kirakosyani, ”, ” Kirakosyani, Gegham Stepanyan, Tom Lantos, Cross, Luis Moreno Ocampo, Arayik Harutyunyan, Nikol Pashinyan, Mary Asatryan Max Mkhitaryan, Mary Asatryan, Brendan Hoffman, Ronald Suny, Azerbaijan’s, Ilham Aliyev, –, ” Harutyunyan, Peter Stano, Harutyunyan, Maria Zakharova, Artyom, Anahit, Vahe Gevorgyan, ” Gharaghazaryan Organizations: CNN, International Association of Genocide, Artsakh, Rights, International Committee, ICRC, Criminal Court, Armenian, Stepanakert Medical, University of Michigan, …, United States State Department, EU, Reuters, European Union, Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia, Hamline University, UN Security, “ Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Haterk, Republic of Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Republic, Armenia, Artsakh, Stepanakert, Soviet Union, Turkey, Baku, … Baku, Azerbaijani, Aghdam, EU, Russia, United States, Ukraine

☆ Silicon Valley billionaires want to build a new city in rural California, but locals are skeptical of the project: 'Their secrecy has caused a lot of problems'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Janie Har | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Silicon Valley billionaires revealed plans to build a new city after buying $800 million in land. The land was quietly purchased in Solano County, a rural area near San Francisco and Sacramento. Most of the land purchased is in the southeastern portion of the county, with parcels stretching from Fairfield to Rio Vista. Billionaires want to build a new city in rural California, but they're encountering wavering support from locals and lawmakers. Solano County homes are among the most affordable in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a median sales price of $600,000 last month.

Persons: Jan Sramek, Goldman Sachs, Flannery, Laurene Powell Jobs, Reid Hoffman, Marc Andreessen, Marc Andreeseen, Lauren Powell Jobs, Michael Moritz, Paul Chinn, Countess, Michael Kovac, Sramek, Mike Thompson, Terry Chea, Princess Washington, Thompson, they're, he's, John Garamendi, Hoffman, Andreessen, Ron Kott, Kott Organizations: Service, FRANCISCO, Flannery Associates, Silicon, LinkedIn, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Getty, Fair, Solano, US Air Force, FBI, of Treasury, AP, San Francisco Bay Area, Travis Air Force Base, US Locations: Solano County, San Francisco, Sacramento, Wall, Silicon, Northern California, Solano, Silicon Valley, California, Fairfield, Rio Vista, U.S, United Kingdom, Ireland, walkable, Terry Chea California, California's, San Francisco Bay, Princess, Suisun City, Travis

☆ A mayor told the investors who want to build a new city in her backyard to 'take their billions of dollars and go back down to Silicon Valley'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Moy told Bloomberg she would "do everything we can to stop" Flannery Associates' plans. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Moy told Bloomberg that "this is no way to go about any kind of development," adding: "We're going to do everything we can to stop this." The Silicon Valley elites have purchased about 52,000 acres of land around Travis Air Force Base since 2018, leaving "no part that isn't touched by Flannery," Moy told ABC 7 News. Speaking to CNBC about the Flannery plan, Moy said the Air Force base "can't function" with a settlement encroaching on it.

Persons: Catherine Moy, Moy, Flannery, John Garamendi, Solano County's, Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobs Organizations: Solano, Bloomberg, Service, Daily, Flannery Associates, New York Times, Travis Air Force Base, ABC, CNBC, Air Force Locations: Fairfield, Wall, Silicon, California, Solano County, San Francisco

☆ A company that counts billionaires Marc Andreessen and Laurene Powell Jobs as investors says it's bought 50,000 acres of land to build a new 'walkable' city in northern California. Here's everything w
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

California Forever says it wants to build a "walkable" city with new jobs, surrounded by an agricultural greenbelt. The company, Flannery Associates, has been quiet until now, but its parent company California Forever just launched a new website detailing its master plan. Solano County sits between Sacramento, San Francisco, and Napa Valley, and has a population of around 450,000 across just over 900 square miles. Sramek founded California Forever in 2017 and recently bought a family home there. "Now that we're no longer limited by confidentiality, we are eager to begin a conversation about the future of Solano County," it says.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Marc Andreessen, Laurene Powell Jobs, Flannery, Jan Sramek, he'd, Jan, Sramek, it's, Who's, Chris Dixon, John Doerr, Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, Reid Hoffman, Michael Moritz, Andreessen Horowitz, Patrick, John Collison Organizations: Goldman, Service, Flannery Associates, California Forever, Travis Air Force Base, California Forever's, California Delta, California Locations: San Francisco, California, Wall, Silicon, Solano County, Sacramento, Napa Valley, Solano, Fairfield, Rio Vista, walkable

☆ Venture Capitalist Reid Hoffman to Scale Back Investment Role at Greylock
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Berber Jin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/venture-capitalist-reid-hoffman-to-scale-back-investment-role-at-greylock-9590a19a

Persons: Dow Jones, reid, hoffman

STEINHATCHEE, Florida, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Florida's Gulf Coast braced on Wednesday for fierce winds, torrential rain and surging seawater from Idalia, forecast to become "an extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane, as it swirled toward a direct hit on the state's Big Bend region. Most of Florida's 21 million residents, and many in the adjacent states of Georgia and South Carolina, were under hurricane warnings and other storm-related advisories. Any storm reaching Category 3 or higher is considered a major hurricane. 1 killer in all of these storms is water," Deanne Criswell, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's administrator, said on CNN. Idalia-related disruptions extended to Florida's Atlantic coast at Cape Canaveral, where the Tuesday launch of a rocket carrying a U.S. Space Force intelligence satellite was delayed indefinitely.

Persons: Kevin Guthrie, Rene Hoffman, Idalia, Steve Pizzano, Adrees Latif, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Irma, Michael, Ian, DeSantis, Milton Bontrager, Maria Alejandra Cardona, Marco Bello, Joey Roulette, Rich McKay, Nelson Acosta, Dave Sherwood, Brad Brooks, Brendan O'Brien, Nandita Bose, Steve Gorman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters Graphics Reuters, National Hurricane Center, NHC, REUTERS, Federal Emergency Management, CNN, White, Florida, Republican, U.S . Space Force, Tampa International Airport, National Guard, Thomson Locations: STEINHATCHEE, Florida, Idalia, Bend, Gulf of Mexico, Georgia, South Carolina, Steinhatchee , Florida, Miami, Cedar Key , Florida, Gulf Coast, North, Sarasota, Apalachicola Bay ., Clearwater Beach , Florida, U.S, Gulf, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Tampa, St, Petersburg, Cape Canaveral, Cuba, Tampa , Florida, Atlanta, Havana, Guanimar, Longmont , Colorado, Chicago, Washington

Narcan, the first opioid overdose reversal medication approved for over-the-counter purchase, is being shipped to drugstore and grocery chains nationwide, its manufacturer said Wednesday. Big-box outlets like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Rite Aid said they expected Narcan to be available online and on many store shelves early next week. There were more than 100,000 opioid overdose fatalities in each of the last two years in the United States. Narcan is already a staple for emergency personnel and street outreach teams. Now scientists and health officials are hoping Narcan will eventually become commonplace in public libraries, subways, dorms, corner delis and street vending machines.

Persons: Narcan Organizations: CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid Locations: United States

☆ Mysterious new California city backed by some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view of the city of San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge in California, October 28, 2021. Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs trader, has been quietly working to build an urban utopia in California nestled near San Francisco and Silicon Valley. But just a few years after the mysterious project got underway, it is facing increasing scrutiny from local officials and residents. Local residents were unnerved by the company as it bought up more and more land, according to the report. Read more at The New York Times.

Persons: Jan Sramek, Goldman Sachs, Sramek, Flannery, Reid Hoffman, Marc Andreessen, Andreessen Horowitz, Michael Moritz, Read Organizations: The New York Times, Flannery Associates, Bloomberg, LinkedIn, Democratic, Times Locations: San Francisco, California, Silicon

☆ A mystery company backed by Silicon Valley billionaires has purchased tens of thousands of acres of land for more than $800 million to build a new city near San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A company called Flannery Associates has been purchasing land in a county near San Francisco. The company, Flannery Associates, has spent $800 million to purchase thousands of acres of farmland in Solano County, which sits northeast of San Francisco, court documents obtained by Insider show. But the spending price has since soared, with Flannery spending up to $15,000 per acre, lawyers for Flannery Associates said in court documents. Attorneys for Flannery Associates and the landowners did not respond to a request for comment outside of working hours. AdvertisementAdvertisementMusk recently purchased 3,500 acres of land outside of Austin, Texas, to build a town he intends to call "Snailbrook."

Persons: Flannery, Marc Andreessen, Laurene Powell Jobs, Catherine Moy, Jan Sramek, Goldman Sachs, Powell Jobs, Michael Moritz of, Reid Hoffman, Moritz, Y, We're, Bill Gates, Elon Musk Organizations: Service, Silicon, The New York Times, Flannery Associates, Street Journal, Travis Air Force Base, Air Force Base Google, ABC, Times, Michael Moritz of Sequoia Capital, LinkedIn, Solano County Google, The Times, Tech Locations: San Francisco, Wall, Silicon, California, Solano County, Fairfield, Real, Austin , Texas, Colorado

☆ Audiobook of the Week: ‘How to Write About Africa’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Dipo Faloyin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Deciding what audiobook to listen to requires its own special calculus, related to but distinct from the factors we consider when picking a book off a shelf. From the Book Review’s own endless listening, we will select and review a different title each week, from a range of genres, to help you decide. HOW TO WRITE ABOUT AFRICA: Collected Works, by Binyavanga Wainaina. Reading Binyavanga Wainaina makes you sit up straight. Dismantling the Western world’s constructed myths and clichés about Africa, his art firmly orients you toward the reality of life across the most genetically diverse place on earth.

Persons: Binyavanga Wainaina, Read, Dominic Hoffman, Yinka, Wainaina, ” Locations: Africa

☆ In Trump's absence, DeSantis seen as 'punching bag' in first Republican debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis listens to a question from the audience at a campaign town hall meeting in Newport, New Hampshire, U.S., August 19, 2023. In Trump's absence, candidates are expected to launch a fusillade of attacks on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as competitors try to displace him as Trump's top challenger, according to strategists and aides to rival campaigns. DeSantis is seen as vulnerable after a summer slide in the polls, which have left him languishing more than 30 points behind Trump in the race. "He's going to be a punching bag," said Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former senior aide to U.S. Still, Trump's no-show doesn't mean he won't be a major presence in the debate, which kicks off at the Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Brian Snyder, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Tucker Carlson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Brian Darling, Rand Paul, Martha MacCallum, Bret Baier, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Jeanette Hoffman, He's, Hoffman, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Doug Burgum, Hutchinson, Pence, Ramaswamy, Christie, Christopher Wlezien, Wlezien, Nathan Layne, Gram Slattery, Susan Heavey, Ross Colvin, Deepa Babington, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Republican, Florida, REUTERS, Democratic, Fox News, Florida Governor, Trump, Former New Jersey, Former Arkansas, U.S . Capitol, North Dakota, Reuters, University of Texas, Austin, Thomson Locations: Newport , New Hampshire, U.S, Milwaukee, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Former, Christie

☆ Reaction to Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in plane crash with no survivors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Yulia Morozova/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed as a passenger on a private jet that crashed on Wednesday evening north of Moscow with no survivors, the Russian authorities said. The following is reaction:*U.S. President Joe Biden to reporters in Lake Tahoe:“I don't know for a fact what happened. Reports Russian Air Defence shot down the plane suggests Putin is sending a very loud message." It so happens that political opponents whom Vladimir Putin considers a threat to his power do not die naturally." In the end, if Vladimir Putin is so powerful, why didn’t he arrest Prigozhin?”Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Maxim Fomin, Vladlen Tatarsky, Yulia Morozova, Joe Biden, I'm, Putin, Mykhailo Podolyak, Vladimir, Alicia Kearns, Zbigniew Rau, Vladimir Putin, Daniel Hoffman, Prigozhin, ”, That’s, Pavel Luzin, thinktank, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, CNN, Foreign Affairs, Govt, Russian Air Defence, CIA, Center for, Thomson Locations: St Petersburg, Moscow, Russia, Lake Tahoe, Estonia, U.S

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