Week 2024-43

Bluesky I’ve recently deleted my Bluesky account because I wasn’t actively using it. The people I followed there are already on either Mastodon or Micro.blog, so it was just duplicate content. But then I decided to try the Croissant app and thought I should keep a Bluesky account … | Continue reading


@otavio.cc | 18 minutes ago

Quoting Molly White

As an independent writer and publisher, I am the legal team. I am the fact-checking department. I am the editorial staff. I am the one responsible for triple-checking every single statement I make in the type of original reporting that I know carries a serious risk of baseless bu … | Continue reading


@simonwillison.net | 20 minutes ago

I voted today. Triple-checked my ballot. Still nervous but feels good to have the end of the election in sight. This is one for the history books. 🇺🇸 | Continue reading


@manton.org | 45 minutes ago

I am my own legal department: the promise and peril of “just go independent”

Independent publishing is one important facet of the media ecosystem, and while I love it, I know it is not the path for everyone. | Continue reading


@citationneeded.news | 55 minutes ago

It's not a tiny home. It's actually a nuclear microreactor powerplant

How would you like to visit your local nuclear power facility and maybe go for a swim in its indoor pool? Or hang out and look at art ... Maybe even just sit with friends and enjoy a cup of coffee in the warm glow of nuclear power? Continue Reading Category: Energy, Technology Ta … | Continue reading


@newatlas.com | 1 hour ago

Astronomy & Astrophysics 101: Anatomy of a Black Hole Flare

Astronomers have discovered that shifts in the corona around black holes lead to dramatic flares of X-rays, observable through advanced telescopes. This phenomenon involves a process where the corona gathers inward, brightens, and then shoots away, significantly increasing X-ray … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 1 hour ago

Lyft fined $2.1 million for misleading ads about how much drivers could make

A Lyft sign taken in January 2023 at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. | Photo: Mat Hayward / Getty Images The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Friday that rideshare company Lyft has agreed to pay $2.1 million as part of a proposed settlement that requires it … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 1 hour ago

The medical community loves a headset (members post)

Apparently there are surgeons who are getting tons of value from the Vision Pro. That’s great, but is it evidence that the Vision Pro is a great success, or is it just that surgeons use literally every headset that comes out regardless of if those headsets are successes or failur … | Continue reading


@birchtree.me | 1 hour ago

Unlimited VPN Protection at $2.19/mo: See This Internet-Breaking PIA VPN Deal

If you want to take advantage of a USA-made VPN, the time has come. For the next few days, Private Internet Access is offering a discount on its 2-year subscription. | Continue reading


@gizmodo.com | 1 hour ago

Authorities sound the alarm on the rising threat of arson as heat and dry conditions persist: 'That's going to be something of historical significance'

"It's more likely that those fires have the opportunity to get larger quicker, and to damage or burn homes." Authorities sound the alarm on the rising threat of arson as heat and dry conditions persist: 'That's going to be something of historical significance' first appeared on T … | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 1 hour ago

Mastodon discussion about sandboxing SVG data

Mastodon discussion about sandboxing SVG data I asked this on Mastodon and got some really useful replies: How hard is it to process untrusted SVG data to strip out any potentially harmful tags or attributes (like stuff that might execute JavaScript)? The winner for me turned out … | Continue reading


@simonwillison.net | 1 hour ago

Makoism – Excellent new site I found

Wasn’t familiar with Makoism until today but flipping through the weekly posts I found lots of great other content to read so this is now in my RSS rotation. | Continue reading


@curtismchale.ca | 1 hour ago

You can't hurt Bezos

It probably does no good to cancel your Washington Post subscription. It's hard to imagine Bezos would lose any money from a complete writedown. Any loss would offset gains he would receive from selling a tiny bit of Amazon stock, it would wash out on his balance sheet. You can't … | Continue reading


@scripting.com | 2 hours ago

LLM Pictionary

LLM Pictionary Inspired by my SVG pelicans on a bicycle, Paul Calcraft built this brilliant system where different vision LLMs can play Pictionary with each other, taking it in turns to progressively draw SVGs while the other models see if they can guess what the image represents … | Continue reading


@simonwillison.net | 2 hours ago

Why America's future could hinge on Elon Musk

Iron Man, or Dr. Doom? | Continue reading


@noahpinion.blog | 2 hours ago

Seeking Great Lakes Treasure

Everyone has their own take on whitefish dip. It’s like Lebanese seven-spice mix: which seven depends on who is doing… The post Seeking Great Lakes Treasure appeared first on Maureen Abood. | Continue reading


@maureenabood.com | 2 hours ago

Unlocking the 3D Spin Secrets of Magnetic Skyrmions To Power Future Electronics

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have advanced the understanding of magnetic skyrmions by developing techniques to image their 3D structures. These nanoscale objects show promise for revolutionizing microelectronics through enhanced data storage capabilities and reduced energy consump … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 2 hours ago

Edgar Wright’s The Running Man Gets Michael Cera In On the Action

The Scott Pilgrim alum and Coda's Emilia Jones join the Glen Powell-led film due for release in November 2025. | Continue reading


@gizmodo.com | 2 hours ago

New study finds troubling connection between postpartum depression and environmental factor — here are the details

The science around the negative impacts on our bodies is growing clearer. New study finds troubling connection between postpartum depression and environmental factor — here are the details first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Houses of cards and triangular numbers

November’s issue of Scientific American has a fun little puzzle about houses of cards. I solved it one way and SciAm solved it another, so I thought it worth a quick post. | Continue reading


@leancrew.com | 2 hours ago

ChatGPT advanced voice mode can attempt Spanish with a Russian accent

ChatGPT advanced voice mode can attempt Spanish with a Russian accent ChatGPT advanced voice mode may refuse to sing (unless you jailbreak it) but it's quite happy to attempt different accents. I've been having a lot of fun with that: I need you to pretend to be a California brow … | Continue reading


@simonwillison.net | 3 hours ago

Walmart employee appalled after examining store trash cans on nightly basis: 'It's disgusting'

"This can't be normal?" Walmart employee appalled after examining store trash cans on nightly basis: 'It's disgusting' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

According to a New Study, Ancient Ants Were Farming Long Before Humans Existed

Ants have been farming fungi since shortly after an asteroid triggered a mass extinction 66 million years ago, according to a study that analyzed genetic data to explore this ancient agriculture, potentially providing lessons for sustainable practices. Humans started farming thou … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 3 hours ago

How Comics Were Made

I just received my copy of How Comics Were Made in the mail and with a quick flip through the book I’m even more excited to dig in and enjoy the art and the history of comics. Here are a few sample images from the book to whet your appetite. | Continue reading


@curtismchale.ca | 3 hours ago

What is your favorite form of physical exercise?

Torn between pull-ups and hiking. Pull-ups are great, you against your weight. Each cookie and chocolate bar you ever ate pulls you down. Your will pulls you up. Who will win? However, I lost my ability to do pull-ups about a year ago and it is not on my list of things to do next … | Continue reading


@veselin.blog | 3 hours ago

Lara Croft Will Keep On Raiding in Tomb Raider Season 2

Netflix and Powerhouse's Tomb Raider adaptation will throw Lara into danger once more with her best friend Sam at her side. | Continue reading


@gizmodo.com | 3 hours ago

Postecoglou happy with Spurs’ form, should be able to score more goals

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou was pleased with his team’s performance in their 1-0 win over Alkmaar but said they should have scored more. Spurs made a number of changes to their squad but still managed to beat Alkmaar 1-0 at home thanks to Richarlison’s penalty | Continue reading


@ramblingspace.com | 4 hours ago

PL2 Laser Cinema projector designed for "true home theater enthusiasts"

Laser projectors can be great replacements for a room-dominating big-screen TV, but kids, cats and even fellow housemates can cause you to lose sight of the action if they move in front of the light. Ultra-short-throw models can nip such shadowplay in the bud, like the new PL2 fr … | Continue reading


@newatlas.com | 4 hours ago

Wait, Standing Desks Might Be Bad For Your Health?

Did we all take the idea that standing is better than sitting for granted? Maybe standing desks aren't the solution to our health woes after all. | Continue reading


@inverse.com | 4 hours ago

Gardener shares 'brilliant' idea for reusing toilet paper rolls: 'I've already started collecting empty rolls'

"Works great!" Gardener shares 'brilliant' idea for reusing toilet paper rolls: 'I've already started collecting empty rolls' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 4 hours ago

Earth's mantle is split into two halves thanks to supercontinent Pangaea

The mantle is split up into two domains — the African and the Pacific — that emerged when supercontinent Pangaea broke apart. | Continue reading


@livescience.com | 4 hours ago

Manchester United are waiting to see if Antony is seriously injured

Manchester United are awaiting assessment of Brazilian winger Antony’s injury after he was out in Europe. Antony was substituted for Marcus Rashford in the 73rd minute but is stretcher off injure and replace in the 89th minute by Amad Diallo in Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League | Continue reading


@ramblingspace.com | 4 hours ago

Manchester United have not won a European competition in a full year

Manchester United have not won a European competition in a full year. Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by Fenerbahce in their last Europa League game on Thursday, making a three-game ยูฟ่าเบท winning run in the competition. That means Erik ten Hag’s Manchester | Continue reading


@ramblingspace.com | 4 hours ago

Witness Michigan’s Stunning Fall Transformation From Space

Autumn brings a spectacular display of colors to Michigan, capturing the attention of leaf peepers with vibrant reds, golds, and oranges visible across both the Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Captured vividly by satellite imagery, these colors mark a dramatic seasonal change, highli … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 4 hours ago

Film Series (Blog Note)

A question. I'm thinking of writing regularly about film photography this Winter, and I wonder what you think of that. Not entirely—maybe about a third or half the posts. And not forever—maybe for November, December, and January. Possibly into March... Related Stories (Blog Note) … | Continue reading


@feeds.feedblitz.com | 4 hours ago

Authors and Artists Join Forces Against Unregulated AI

The movement to counter unregulated AI usage initially gained traction among writers, who were among the first to voice concerns over AI’s potential to replicate their creative styles without consent. Early on, groups like the Authors Guild led legal challenges, arguing that AI m … | Continue reading


@goodereader.com | 4 hours ago

Reading over old lecture notes.  From, I’m guessing, 2019.  Not sure, there’s no date which is very odd for me.

Writing freely in reaction to them. How I never should have left and continued study in Kerouac, Poe…. […] | Continue reading


@bottledaux.com | 4 hours ago

Buzz Mill Coffee. ☕️ | Continue reading


@manton.org | 4 hours ago

Tim Walz and AOC are going to play Madden together on Twitch

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Governor Tim Walz is returning to Twitch and this time, he’ll actually be playing a game. Earlier this month, Kamala Harris’ campaign teamed up with a Twitch streamer to live-stream a Walz rally as part of a World of Warcraft stream. But on Sunda … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 4 hours ago

Leica Books

Tom Burke wrote: If the new "Leica M" book celebrates 70 years of M photography, that must mean that I've had my 50 Years of Leica M book for 20 years. Goodness me—where did they go? Amen to that. One... Related Stories Collect Every New Film Renaissance Camera There Is Open Mike … | Continue reading


@feeds.feedblitz.com | 5 hours ago

One-year anniversary of a Republican conspiracy theory

One year ago today… “Republicans float a quiet conspiracy theory that Biden won’t be on the ballot” (NBC): Though no incumbent president has declined to seek a second term since Lyndon Johnson in 1969, there is an unfounded conversation among a faction on the political right that … | Continue reading


@philip.greenspun.com | 5 hours ago

Niall Ferguson: Israel’s Iran Strike—and America’s Strategic Weakness

Once again, Israel appears to have ignored Washington’s advice. Once again, that decision has paid off. | Continue reading


@thefp.com | 5 hours ago

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds Review: The Best Way to Listen to Your Steam Deck

SteelSeries' Arctis GameBuds offer great audio with a ludicrous number of EQ options, but its best feature is the slot for the 2.4 GHz dongle. | Continue reading


@gizmodo.com | 5 hours ago

NFL and FEMA devise plan to help communities during natural disasters: 'A groundbreaking opportunity'

"To help our partners use these venues for emergency response and recovery needs, while keeping communities safe and making them more resilient." NFL and FEMA devise plan to help communities during natural disasters: 'A groundbreaking opportunity' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 5 hours ago

Peri-menopause and Menopause Questions On AskMetaFilter

Peri-menopause and menopause are still woefully understood phases of a woman's life. Here's a couple of recent Ask MetaFilter questions that delve into various aspects of these natural biological processes: 1. If hormones mess with you, what was peri/menopause like? 2. Menopause … | Continue reading


@bestof.metafilter.com | 5 hours ago

Android 16 could get iPhone-like ‘ongoing’ notifications

Google may be working on persistent notifications similar to its phone call status pictured here. | Photo: Wes Davis / The Verge Android 16 may come with a new “Rich Ongoing Notifications” feature that lets developers keep persistent notifications in the Android status bar, accor … | Continue reading


@theverge.com | 5 hours ago

Wildlife Worker Dresses Up Like a Bird to Teach an Orphaned Baby Crane How to Drink

Siya Nyawo of the FreeMe Wildlife dressed up like a bird and used a puppet to teach a baby wattled crane how to drink. | Continue reading


@laughingsquid.com | 5 hours ago

Space’s Secret Ingredient: Pyrene’s Role in Our Universe

MIT researchers have found pyrene, a complex carbon molecule, in a distant interstellar cloud similar to the one that formed our solar system. Detected using radio astronomy, this discovery suggests that such molecules could be the source of significant amounts of carbon in the s … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 5 hours ago