new This isn’t the first time that social media platforms have had to grapple with criticisms of the potential impact of the content they distribute during times of intense geopolitical strife. (An important note: Anti-Muslim views and acts are also on the rise, and some have criticized TikTok and other social platforms for unfairly censoring or limiting the reach of pro-Palestine content.) But in TikTok’s case, the scrutiny is greater: For the last few years, the company has found itself under the crosshairs of another geopolitical clash, between the U.S. and China. And while the group of tech executives who recently met with the company’s leadership team are pushing the company for more transparency and to revisit its content policies, some in the tech community were pushing for much more restrictive measures well before the current war in the Middle East broke out. — Fortune, 10h ago

new For Eyram, there wasn't a single eureka moment but a gradual, crystalizing realization. As he navigated through his career, he heard and witnessed numerous stories of serendipitous encounters leading to significant deals and partnerships, particularly in dense biotech hubs. But this reliance on chance troubled him. The idea that a groundbreaking drug or vaccine could be left on the shelf simply because its creators weren't in the right place or plugged into the right network was unacceptable to him. Eyram's realization culminated in a vision where serendipity is not left to chance but is systematically facilitated through Ecosystem Intelligence. Probatech aims to democratize access to connections and information, ensuring that groundbreaking ideas and inventions don't get lost due to a lack of resources or network access. By doing so, Eyram envisions a more efficient, equitable, and productive pharmaceutical industry where the best ideas get the opportunity to thrive, irrespective of their origin. — Science Times, 16h ago

new In addition to offering these new services, REDiacoustics has created an Acoustic Treatment Calculator that can be used for free on the firm’s website to get a preview of the possibilities that room optimization can offer within a given space. “With the boom in home recording and content creation, more people than ever before are using rooms in their homes and offices as critical listening spaces,” adds REDIacoustics Co-Founder PK Pandey. “Ultimately we’re looking to demystify acoustics and educate the public on how easy it can be to be on the path to a better sounding room with the implementation of a few simple techniques,” adds REDIacoustics Co-Founder PK Pandey. “Excellent sounding rooms are not just for multi-million dollar recording studios anymore – we want people to know that you can implement these solutions anywhere.”... — Mixonline, 20h ago

new The conference kicked off with keynotes and comments from Black Hat and DEF CON founder Jeff Moss and Azeria Labs founder Maria Markstedter, who explored the future of AI risk — which includes a raft of new technical, business, and policy challenges to navigate. The show features key briefings on research that has uncovered emerging new threats stemming from the use of AI systems, including flaws in generative AI that makes them prone to compromise and manipulation, AI-enhanced social engineering attacks, and how easily AI training data can be poisoned to impact the reliability of the ML models that depend on it. The latter, presented today by Will Pearce, AI red team lead for Nvidia, features research for which Anderson was a collaborator. He says the study shows that most training data is scoured from online sources that are easy to manipulate. — darkreading.com, 20h ago

new Schreger: I obviously hope that this field grows, because I think it's really capturing one of the key features of the international monetary and financial system. This is one of the defining questions of today. So, what I'm really hoping for is that we start to see empirical work along with an increase in theory here. As we started working on this, what really jumped out to us is how many of the core questions in the area we really didn't have a systematic knowledge of. One of the types of things we're working on is, we know that states are playing an increasing role in the international financial system, but a systematic understanding of what precisely states have acquired around the world, whether firms owned by states are behaving differently, how states differ from the private sector in acquiring what they deem strategic industries, I think that, right now, there's a major opportunity to try to add an empirical understanding of these questions. And so, I'm really looking for an explosion of research in that area. — Mercatus Center, 20h ago

new It goes to show just how many paths we’re presented with, to keep ourselves charged up and distracted from our discomfort. Sometimes an apparent drama addiction may be a factor of mental illness that would benefit from treatment. But the fast pace and constant theatrics of modern life gives us plenty of means of distracting from distress – and even reinforcing it. One of Lyons’s patients realised he’d replicated the turmoil of his upbringing by choosing to live in New York, the “constant underlying tension” of the city making him feel at home. It’s not lost on me that my career as a writer rewards me for telling stories about my own life, as well as other people’s – and that my stress levels plummeted after I left London for a slower pace of life. — the Guardian, 1d ago

new For all of the bravado of AI, before we become too dazzled or dismayed (depending on which side of this issue you reside), at AI’s potential impact on projects, it is worthwhile to sit back with a skeptical bird’s eye view. After all, as we humans evolved throughout the information age of the mid to late twentieth century, AI can just be considered the latest development in a long series of technological advances driven by the engine of human information input. Even if every one of the improvements stated above are tangible, how well does it translate to the ultimate outcome? Organizations around the globe have been trying to digitalize and computerize, some as early as the 1960s and 1970s. Digitization and computerization promised a revolution in productivity through automation, streamlining, and making humans redundant. But the road to a more significant productivity boost has been arduous at best. One of the primary reasons is captured in the Theory of Constraints (TOC) developed by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, an Israeli physicist turned business management guru. In his landmark book The Goal, which sold over 6 million copies, he explains the importance of focusing on the right constraints to improve the overall system. For projects, the constraints are generally not within the technology and tools, but within humans. — Healthcare Business Today, 1d ago

new I have said in the past that the only way our current global society could operate on renewable energy exclusively would be first to reduce dramatically our use of energy overall, perhaps by 75 to 80 percent. This would involve major retrofitting of buildings of all types, the broad use of energy efficient design in all products, the banning of unnecessary energy use—there would be a big fight over what’s “unnecessary”—and caps on overall energy use. Then, we might have to get used to not having electricity 24/7 in the amounts we desire, at least until battery technology to store enough electricity is perfected. My premise is that it will be impossible to supply the amount of energy currently supplied by fossil fuels using renewable sources alone in any time frame that allows for a gradual energy transition (that is, before fossil fuel supplies decline and climate change becomes a possible extinction event). — resilience, 1d ago

new But even as PublicSquare presents itself as a safe haven to customers, it’s not clear that businesses have to necessarily do much to join the platform. According to The Washington Post, to qualify, a company must be a small or medium-size business that “affirms” the platform’s five core values. (The company also “prioritizes” business with products made in America, but it’s unclear how.) Many of those values seem to impose few, if any, burdens on the ways companies conduct themselves. Instead, they are merely vague statements like, “We believe in the greatness of this Nation and will always fight to defend it.” The most pointed one, which hints at gender traditionalism and anti-abortion stances, goes: “We will always protect the family unit and celebrate the sanctity of every life.” But it’s unclear whether there’s any enforcement mechanism other than consumer backlash against companies on PublicSquare that embrace anything that can be spun as “woke.”... — MSNBC.com, 1d ago

new In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the need to address a comprehensive approach to risk management is crucial at all levels of an organization. This imperative becomes even more pronounced in operational technology (OT) environments where different perspectives on risk prevail. While traditional risk management practices have primarily focused on physical and financial risks, the emergence of cybersecurity threats has necessitated a paradigm shift. Collaboration with engineering teams is not just desirable but necessary to incorporate cybersecurity risks into the risk register for OT environments. — Industrial Cyber, 1d ago

new To conclude, the ability to buy magic mushrooms on the web has opened new possibilities for anyone thinking about discovering the realms of consciousness and unlocking the possible therapeutic benefits of these intriguing fungi. Nevertheless, with this supply comes a duty to method their use with respect, caution, and attention of the appropriate landscape. Whether seeking a recreational experience or even a therapeutic trip, people can find a varied variety of strains and services and products on line, sent discreetly to their doorstep, while they embark on their own distinctive exploration of the magic within mushrooms. — WriteUpCafe.com, 1d ago

new However, the ease with which AI can generate complex artwork has shined a light on the authenticity of such creations. Critics like me argue that AI-generated art lacks the intrinsic value of traditional art, which is deeply intertwined with the artist's personal journey, skills, and emotional investment. This perceived dilution of artistic integrity and the relegation of the artist to a mere "prompter" has led to concerns about the "lost art of art." Perhaps we've even moved from "click bait" to "click creation" where vapid, contrived images are generated with little sense of design or artistry—only the frigid recommendations of today's digital curators. — Psychology Today, 1d ago

new The worth benefits of web3 have caught the eye of huge tech firms, and it may additionally result in a significant shift within the technological panorama. Due to this fact, you will need to study safety in web3 with consciousness of web3 safety dangers and instruments for Internet 3.0 safety. The web3 software ecosystem consists of a number of interoperable protocols, that are primarily based on good contracts. With the continual progress of the web3 ecosystem, you will need to give attention to adaptability of safety options to the tempo of innovation. Allow us to be taught extra in regards to the know-how stack required for internet 3.0 safety throughout totally different layers of web3. — BlaQue Crypto News, 2d ago

new ...“A lot of vehicle security vendors are working closer with manufacturers as well as various suppliers to ensure their code and the components themselves are built securely from the group up. During a discussion I had recently with one of these vendors, they’re even looking to use technology like digital twins to maintain a virtual simulation of these components and even ‘completed’ vehicles, so that when new vulnerabilities are discovered in code, they can see what impact this would truly have on operations, plan on how they’re going to address this, and then look at the changes caused by deploying patches and updates.” Harrington explains as he looks at some bright spots ahead. — DATAQUEST, 2d ago

new Starting or expanding a family later in life has become increasingly common as many individuals and couples prioritize career goals, personal development, or finding the right partner before embarking on the journey of parenthood. However, fertility after 40 presents its own set of challenges and considerations. This comprehensive guide offers insight into the hurdles, inspirational success stories, and the informed guidance provided by experts at Marin Fertility Center for those looking to become parents in their 40s and beyond. The trend towards later parenting is backed by a societal shift that values personal readiness and stability, which often comes with age. — Healthcare Business Today, 2d ago

new Roughly speaking, that is my, perhaps unfashionable, view. Williams is, of course, a hugely influential figure, but he doesn’t represent the main trajectory of contemporary philosophy, which is now heavily focused on the interpretation of science-based findings. Generally speaking, Williams is sceptical about the dominant effort to turn philosophy into a handmaiden of science, except in those specific areas that call for this. The overall view that I find most plausible and truthful about our human situation is that — contrary to the sceptical view that we just considered — we can defend a robust understanding of both freedom and responsibility, that can be provided in entirely naturalistic terms. However, what’s interesting about the sort of view Williams describes, which goes all the way back to the ancient Greeks, is that this does not serve to vindicate an easy optimism about the human condition. On the contrary, understanding our situation in these terms grounds a pessimism that is rooted, not in the sceptical thought that we aren’t really free and responsible, but in a more difficult and subtle truth about our predicament, which is that while we may well be free and responsible agents, we nevertheless remain vulnerable to luck, contingency, and aspects of fate in the exercise of moral life itself. It is our awareness of this that we find uncomfortable and tend to resist. Most available theories in the free will debate seek, in various ways, to evade this pessimistic conclusion. Although this understanding of our predicament as human agents may not be one we find comfortable it is, nevertheless, the most truthful interpretation. — Five Books, 2d ago

new What Happened In Italy In 2020? (References)The COVID-19 fraud has many aspects and we have focused our energy on exposing the pivotal “upstream” issues. These include the lack of evidence for an infectious particle known as ‘SARS-CoV-2’, the misuse of the PCR and lateral flow tests and the non-sensical COVID case definition. However, we still get questions such as, “but what happened in Italy in 2020?” On 31 October this year the Health Freedom Defense Fund published an article “Italy 2020 – The Preposterous Pandemic” that looked at the detailed regional breakdown of the COVID-19 deaths or more specifically the deaths officially attributed to COVID-19. Even on their own terms, the article has exposed that the claim that there was pandemic is nothing less than preposterous.by Dr. Sam Baileyhttps://drsambailey.com/resources/videos/covid-19/what-happened-in-italy-in-2020... — Rumble, 2d ago

new In 2022, over £1.2 billion was stolen through fraud in the UK. Yet, organisations increasingly recognise that fraud is a security issue rather than a cost of doing business. Many UK players, especially in the financial services industry, will be looking to adopt end-to-end online fraud prevention solutions, counting on multi-layered tools and technologies. One key development to watch within these ‘layers of defence’ is the addition of so-called risk signals. Leading digital identity experts have already started to incorporate more behavioural biometrics, such as typing patterns or mouse movements. These patterns from historic interactions with users will start to impact fraud prevention positively, with device signals or template signals of fraudulent ID documents making it much harder for fraudsters to get away with their crimes. — Financial IT, 2d ago

new Let us hope that U.S. and NATO military strategists and force planners do not draw too deep an inspiration from Scott’s depiction of Napoleonic battle. It’s bad enough that the allure of the decisive battle is already shaping U.S. deliberations over how to fight a possible future war with China over Taiwan. Disregarding the likely attritional character and extended length of such a fight—and the requirements in manpower, weapons, ammunition, production capacity, and political constancy that would entail—could spell disaster for the United States and its allies. Focusing on long attrition instead of dramatic clashes would certainly make for a boring film experience, especially since one only has to look at Ukraine to see the long slog of attrition playing out in real life. Nonetheless, stripping Napoleon of the romanticism associated with epic battles decided by the archetypal hero on horseback would be a small first step in gaining a better understanding not only of past wars, but also of how future wars will be fought. — Foreign Policy, 2d ago

new The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gave the world a surprise on its first day, Thursday. Delegates from more than 160 countries unanimously agreed to formally establish the Loss and Damage Fund, pledging more than $400 million to support the world's particularly vulnerable countries in their efforts to cope with the loss and damage caused by climate change. This groundbreaking progress has brought much-needed good news to the world, raising confidence and expectations for the outcomes of this conference.The issue of funding has been a focal point in recent UN climate conferences, with prolonged and intense debates surrounding the amount of aid and compensation developed countries should offer for their historical emissions, as well as the ways of raising and distributing the funds. However, the urgency of the severe climate change situation has led to significant achievements. Developed countries have committed to mobilizing $100 billion a year to support climate finance. The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund was a decision made at COP27 in Egypt in 2022, but its implementation has not been easy. Nonetheless, this time, several developed countries have made pledges toward the fund. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), host country of COP28, committed $100 million, Germany, $100 million, the UK, 40 million pounds (about $50.6 million) and 20 million pounds for other arrangements, Japan, $10 million, and the US, known for its grandstanding on climate issues, only $17.5 million. When it comes to paying, some countries revealed their true face. The amount pledged by the US is meager in comparison with its status as the world's largest economy and the responsibility in addressing climate change it should bear given its highest historical cumulative carbon emissions, leading to criticism from attending delegates and experts who deemed it "disappointing," "shocking," and "embarrassing."However, amid this disappointment, there were heartening developments. When the US once again let the world down at the critical moment, other countries stepped up. On the second day of the climate conference, Friday, the UAE announced $30 billion for a new climate finance fund, aiming to mobilize $250 billion by the end of the decade. It also aims to improve the flow of money into projects to reduce emissions, especially in the Global South.Washington should really feel ashamed of this scene. The New York Times bluntly questioned in a September article: How Long Can America's Climate Hypocrisy Last? "It's nothing new for climate ambition and climate hypocrisy to flicker back and forth like the two faces of a lenticular hologram," said the article. Even the American media itself says so, showing how bad the US' performance is on climate issues.Another typical example is the deliberate effort by the US to woo Pacific island nations, establishing new embassies and claiming to help them maintain "maritime security." However, when it comes to the climate issues that these countries genuinely care about, Washington exhibits conspicuous stinginess and parsimony. The true focus of Washington in its diplomacy is becoming increasingly evident to people.At any rate, the US cannot be absent when addressing the issue of climate. Even if other countries are proactive, they cannot fill the irresponsible void left by the US. Conversely, if the US fails to set an example on climate issues, it completely loses its qualification to pursue global leadership. In any case, the US must shoulder its due obligations and responsibilities. The Democratic Party shows a more positive attitude toward climate issues than the Republican Party. The Biden administration should take advantage of its time in office to push for substantive progress on climate issues with greater determination and force.This current climate conference's crucial agenda is the "Global Stocktake," where each contracting party will review progress and gaps in implementing key provisions of the Paris Agreement. The focus will also be on "four paradigm shifts": fast-tracking energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030; transforming climate finance, by delivering on old promises and setting the framework for a new deal on finance; putting nature, people, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action; mobilizing for the most inclusive COP ever. These are ambitious goals indeed.In the realm of climate, every step forward is incredibly challenging. It is precisely because of this difficulty that each achievement is so valuable. Regardless, we observe that human society is moving forward step by step, even though the pace is still too slow and lags behind the rate of environmental degradation. How to ensure that this collective effort of all humanity involves less short-term selfish calculations and more long-term vision of shared future, and stronger climate actions, is crucial for the future and fate of humanity. No one can escape or evade this duty, especially for countries with significant responsibilities and obligations. — globaltimes.cn, 2d ago

new Henry Kissinger realized the setbacks this brought to American geopolitical achievements when he published his programmatic article “Reflections on American Diplomacy” in the October 1956 issue of Foreign Affairs. Evaluating the first decade of the Cold War, Kissinger argued that it had evolved from “an effort to build defensive barriers into a contest for the allegiance of humanity,” a contest the United States was losing. U.S. foreign policy had become too reactive and lacked strategic vision. “The paradoxical result is that we empiricists, appear to the world as rigid, unimaginative and even somewhat cynical, while the dogmatic Bolsheviks exhibit flexibility, daring and subtlety.” Because Soviet diplomacy pursued unlimited and open objectives, “the international debate is carried on almost entirely in the categories and at the pace established by the Soviets.” Moscow’s “flexible tactics and inflexible purpose” led to ideological and geopolitical victories across the globe. In other words, loosening the moralizing ideology would help the United States achieve its goals more efficiently and faster. For Kissinger, the mastery of diplomacy resided “in grasping the nuances of possibilities.” In the absence of “tragic experience” in its foreign policy, Kissinger argued, Washington is unused to operating in conditions that permit “only a choice among evils” and aims to achieve peace through a decisive event instead of maintaining it as “the expression of certain conditions and power relationships.” Kissinger saw the Metternichian, post-Napoleonic era as the gold standard of the art of diplomacy, with its emphasis on dialogue over moralizing and a commitment to transactional diplomacy as the guarantee of a successful balance of power equilibrium. — The National Interest, 2d ago