An unexpected bit of forward thinking

I think I’ve mentioned here before that sometimes I’ll run into a computer problem and Googling for the answer leads me to a post I wrote (and forgot about) years earlier. I had a similar experience today in the physical world. | Continue reading


@leancrew.com | 18 minutes ago

Officials open investigation after tourist harasses and injures wild sea lions: 'Arrest this man'

"I hope he gets caught and actually gets a consequence." Officials open investigation after tourist harasses and injures wild sea lions: 'Arrest this man' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 32 minutes ago

Robots surprisingly easy to organize, strike over overtime [ai/tech/security]

This is blackly hilarious. Note I cannot confirm the actual veracity of any of the following. It could all be some sort of PR stunt such as for a SF show about a robot uprising. Anyway. Apparently there's a viral video of a little robot entering a robot showroom and verbally conv … | Continue reading


@siderea.dreamwidth.org | 53 minutes ago

Scientists achieve record-breaking efficiency with smooth and improved solar tech — here's how it could change the energy industry

It's all about removing surface defects that inhibit power conversion efficiency. Scientists achieve record-breaking efficiency with smooth and improved solar tech — here's how it could change the energy industry first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 1 hour ago

Unusual 200-Million-Year-Old Pterosaur Fossil Unlocks Secrets of Flying Reptile Evolution

A complete specimen reveals how pterosaurs evolved from early forms into the massive giants of later periods. The pterosaurs were extinct flying reptiles that lived alongside their close relatives, the dinosaurs. While the largest pterosaurs reached wingspans of up to 10 meters, … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 1 hour ago

Climate Change Conference: COP29 Declaration for Methane Mitigation

The 29th session of Conference of Parties (COP) of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), popularly known as 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which is being held from 11 November 2024 to 22 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan has launched the … | Continue reading


@scientificeuropean.co.uk | 1 hour ago

Trump Puts The Worst And The Dumbest In Charge

Donald Trump has been looking in dumpsters and trash cans for the worst people he can find for his new administration. The post Trump Puts The Worst And The Dumbest In Charge appeared first on CleanTechnica. | Continue reading


@cleantechnica.com | 1 hour ago

★ Regarding — and, Well, Against — Substack

Anil Dash, “Don’t Call It a Substack”: We constrain our imaginations when we subordinate our creations to names owned by fascist tycoons. Imagine the author of a book telling people to “read my Amazon”. A great director trying to promote their film by saying “click on my Max”. Th … | Continue reading


@daringfireball.net | 1 hour ago

Manufacturer launches game-changing car accessory made from an unusual material — and it's available now at Walmart

"This product exemplifies our dedication to both innovation and environmental responsibility." Manufacturer launches game-changing car accessory made from an unusual material — and it's available now at Walmart first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 1 hour ago

Vancouver Translink Bus Decarbonization At Risk From $1.3 Million CUTRIC Sole Source Study

British Columbia in Canada has a long history with hydrogen for transportation and its constant failures. Ballard Power, the fuel cell manufacturer that pivoted away from lithium ion batteries in 1989 to the losing technology, is based in the Vancouver area. Whistler, the famed s … | Continue reading


@cleantechnica.com | 1 hour ago

Weekly Assemblage for 2024 Week 46

Languaging, proposing, policy-making, policing, potentially melting, and other misadventures of the week. | Continue reading


@ryanpatrickrandall.com | 1 hour ago

Quoting Steven Johnson

When we started working on what became NotebookLM in the summer of 2022, we could fit about 1,500 words in the context window. Now we can fit up to 1.5 million words. (And using various other tricks, effectively fit 25 million words.) The emergence of long context models is, I be … | Continue reading


@simonwillison.net | 1 hour ago

Digital Book Publishing is Growing in China

The Chinese digital book publishing industry is growing. Audiobooks and ebooks are taking off in a big way. A new report proclaims that the entire digital publishing industry earned an estimated 1.6 trillion yuan ($229 billion) in revenue last year, up 19% from 2022. One of the g … | Continue reading


@goodereader.com | 2 hours ago

Homeowner shares stunning photo of unique lawn design just one year after tearing out grass: 'I'm ... impressed'

"I wish the photo could capture the pollinator activity." Homeowner shares stunning photo of unique lawn design just one year after tearing out grass: 'I'm ... impressed' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Nov 20, 2024 Also on Bluesky Manton Reece @manton | Continue reading


@manton.org | 2 hours ago

Report reveals 'vicious cycle' plaguing developing countries — here's how the rest of the world is enabling it

"Environmental shocks and stresses" slow economic growth and lower public revenues, which prevents countries from servicing debts and raises interest rates. Report reveals 'vicious cycle' plaguing developing countries — here's how the rest of the world is enabling it first appear … | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

NASA’s Groundbreaking Artificial Star to Decode Dark Energy Mysteries

The Landolt NASA Space Mission, hosted by George Mason University, will orbit an artificial star to refine telescope calibrations and astrophysical measurements. This project aims to advance the accuracy of scientific data concerning the universe’s expansion and celestial propert … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 2 hours ago

Shopper slams Kylie Jenner's new clothing line: 'Why would anyone pay big bucks for this crap?'

"What a waste of influence, time, money, and resources." Shopper slams Kylie Jenner's new clothing line: 'Why would anyone pay big bucks for this crap?' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Honda has a plan to build solid-state batteries for EVs

Image: Honda Honda set up a demonstration facility in Japan to show off its plans to mass-produce solid-state batteries at lower costs, which could be crucial to unlocking higher-range, longer-lasting electric vehicles for the future. Solid-state batteries have been elusive for m … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 2 hours ago

If Israel Attacks Iran Again, Will Trump Help?

Netanyahu says Iran’s nuclear bomb program is damaged. He would likely need a green light from the president-elect to finish the job. Jay Solomon reports from Washington. | Continue reading


@thefp.com | 2 hours ago

Cyberattack at French hospital exposes health data of 750,000 patients

A data breach at an unnamed French hospital exposed the medical records of 750,000 patients after a threat actor gained access to its electronic patient record system. [...] | Continue reading


@bleepingcomputer.com | 2 hours ago

The Great American Acid Trip

RFK Jr. wants to legalize psychedelics. So what’s stopping them from getting FDA approval? | Continue reading


@thefp.com | 2 hours ago

Driver shares honest review after swapping old car for electric model: 'It was brutal on my wallet'

"Not having to pay for gas has literally changed my life." Driver shares honest review after swapping old car for electric model: 'It was brutal on my wallet' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Need For Speed Unbound Is Adding A Motorcycle And An Extraction Game Mode

Need For Speed Unbound is living up to its name with its latest Vol. 9 update. The game isn’t just a car racing game anymore, it now has bikes. Well, one motorcycle. But hey, it’s still a first for Need For Speed. The ninth content update, Vol. 9 Lockdown, is inspired by Need For … | Continue reading


@gamermatters.com | 2 hours ago

Wednesday's parting shot

Saifee for the holidays on the SE corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street... | Continue reading


@evgrieve.com | 2 hours ago

Homeowner shares impressive before-and-after lawn transformation using high-tech lawnmower: 'This thing is a beast'

"You just sold me." Homeowner shares impressive before-and-after lawn transformation using high-tech lawnmower: 'This thing is a beast' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

Memento Movi, A Cinematic Progress Bar for Life

enter your birthdate, estimated lifespan, and choose from over 500 movies to see where you're at in the movie # | Continue reading


@mementomovi.wackyneighbor.com | 3 hours ago

A Boy Went for a Walk. His Mom Was Charged with ‘Reckless Conduct.’

Brittany Patterson was hauled to jail because her 10-year-old son wandered off. She says her case is a cautionary tale for all parents. | Continue reading


@thefp.com | 3 hours ago

GigaBash Ultraman Rising DLC Adds One New Fighter

Made-in-Malaysia indie kaiju fighter GigaBash isn’t done with adding new content.The UltraParty continues with the release of a new DLC fighter, developer Passion Republic Games announced. The new DLC fighter, Ultraman & Emi, is based on the Netflix show Ultraman: Rising. Unlike … | Continue reading


@gamermatters.com | 3 hours ago

The Genetic Book of the Dead – the great biologist’s swansong

Adam Rutherford in The Guardian: All things must pass, but some leave legacies. That is the story of life on Earth. Fossilised remains of organisms represent just one of the various treasure troves of information about how life used to be, one set of clues to why it is the way it … | Continue reading


@3quarksdaily.com | 3 hours ago

Man addresses widespread conspiracy theory about airplane contrails: 'Not just what you'd expect'

It's a discussion that several experts have had to dismiss and debunk. Man addresses widespread conspiracy theory about airplane contrails: 'Not just what you'd expect' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

Hyperreal is the New Real

There’s a French postmodern philosopher, Jean Baudrillard, who made a big splash in the late 20th Century with his two big ideas about how information … The post Hyperreal is the New Real appeared first on Gapingvoid. | Continue reading


@gapingvoid.com | 3 hours ago

How Stem Cells Stay Young

Rohini Subrahmanyam in The Scientist: Aging is inevitable for most cell types in the human body, but hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) seem to defy the process. They retain their self-renewing ability almost throughout an organism’s lifetime and exhibit a delayed onset of typical h … | Continue reading


@3quarksdaily.com | 3 hours ago

Dumpster diver makes incredible discovery after opening lid of e-waste bin: 'What a great find'

"It was ... brand new." Dumpster diver makes incredible discovery after opening lid of e-waste bin: 'What a great find' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

Eximius: Seize the Frontline Enters Season 4 This December

It’s nice to know that Malaysian indie developers Ammobox Studios continue to support and update their FPS-RTS hybrid game Eximus: Seize The Frontline. It’s entering Season 4 on December 11. Season 4, Domination, will add new units, upgrades, Commander Abilities as well as ten ne … | Continue reading


@gamermatters.com | 3 hours ago

Brain Development Continues Far Beyond Birth, Study Finds

New research shows the brain continues developing post-birth, with significant neuron migration in the entorhinal cortex enhancing learning and memory capabilities. The human brain continues to develop long after birth, much longer than previously thought, according to research l … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 3 hours ago

Bear raids a candy store, while gawkers unintentionally block the exit door (video)

A black bear raided a candy store in Gatlinburg, Tennessee last week while amused bystanders gawked at the spectacle through the shop window — and entrance. "Let him out, let him out!" someone shouted, as workers made loud noises trying to scare the big guy out. — Read the rest T … | Continue reading


@boingboing.net | 3 hours ago

Recent convert shares newfound peace after profound lifestyle change: 'I've learned to focus on what truly matters'

"I've also been able to save more for experiences, which I value the most." Recent convert shares newfound peace after profound lifestyle change: 'I've learned to focus on what truly matters' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

What Will Happen To The Clean Hydrogen Hubs Now?

The US green hydrogen industry is poised for rapid growth with an assist from the new $7 billion Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, if all goes according to plan. The post What Will Happen To The Clean Hydrogen Hubs Now? appeared first on CleanTechnica. | Continue reading


@cleantechnica.com | 3 hours ago

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a three-row electric SUV with room to grow

The SEL trim of the Hyundai Ioniq 9. | Image: Hyundai The South Korean automaker unveiled its newest EV ahead of the LA Auto Show. Continue reading… | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 4 hours ago

Homeowner warns against freezer trick that supposedly lowers your energy bill: 'You will actually inhibit its performance'

To demonstrate their point, the homeowner provided an infrared image of their chest freezer. Homeowner warns against freezer trick that supposedly lowers your energy bill: 'You will actually inhibit its performance' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 4 hours ago

Best portable Bluetooth speaker for camping: JBL Clip 5

TL;DR: Check out now to save an extra 24% on this JBL Bluetooth speaker that can clip onto your backpack. Whether you're headed on a camping or beach trip, there's one thing you can't forget—aside from the sunscreen or a cooler: a speaker to keep the good vibes going! — Read the … | Continue reading


@boingboing.net | 4 hours ago

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have spelled out their plans for DOGE

Illustration by Laura Normand / The Verge Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were officially appointed the co-leads of President-elect Donald Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) last week, and on Wednesday, the two men spelled out their plans for the advisory group in … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 4 hours ago

Commuter shares ultimate winter survival kit for harsh road conditions: 'These are great'

When adverse weather closes in, it makes sense to pack some essentials. Commuter shares ultimate winter survival kit for harsh road conditions: 'These are great' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 4 hours ago

Indecision at the intersection of Mac Studio and Mac mini

My current desktop Mac, the one I work on day in and day out in my garage/office, is an M1 Mac Studio. I’ve had it for almost three years, and it’s still great.… | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 hours ago

Kraft Heinz pulls Lunchables from federal school lunch program — here's what it could mean for schools

"Our country's food policies should ... ensure millions of kids have access to the healthier options they deserve." Kraft Heinz pulls Lunchables from federal school lunch program — here's what it could mean for schools first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 4 hours ago

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance is marked every Nov. 20and began in 1999 to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman who was killed in Massachusetts. The day marks the end of Transgender Awareness Week, which is used to raise public knowledge about the transgender community and the issues … | Continue reading


@amerpie.lol | 4 hours ago

Can We Stop Mercury Poisoning? Scientists Identify the Missing Link

Scientists discovered that SAM plays a critical role in the production of methylmercury, a highly toxic compound that contaminates seafood. Their findings could aid efforts to reduce methylmercury’s environmental impact. Mercury is highly toxic, but it becomes particularly danger … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 4 hours ago