Inside Google’s Two-Year Frenzy to Catch Up With OpenAI

The search giant should’ve been first to the chatbot revolution. It wasn’t. So it punched back with late nights, layoffs—and lowering some guardrails. | Continue reading


@wired.com | 16 minutes ago

Suffused with causality

Humans have a superpower that makes us uniquely capable of controlling the world: our ability to understand cause and effect - by Mariel Goddu Read at Aeon | Continue reading


@aeon.co | 16 minutes ago

Careless people

Facebook: so they sound nice. This is not your father’s book review So, a bit of an admission: I normally don’t read stuff about Big Tech, even though I’ve been railing against it in one form or other for a little over the past decade. Why? It gets me angry. Like, really angry. I … | Continue reading


@ar.al | 17 minutes ago

Georgia lawmakers face a pivotal decision over a controversial mining ban: 'This moratorium horse has legs'

"It's great to see the legislature speaking out once again for the swamp in such an overwhelmingly bipartisan way." Georgia lawmakers face a pivotal decision over a controversial mining ban: 'This moratorium horse has legs' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 46 minutes ago

GASH! Fundraising Party at the Rio Dalston with Princess Julia & Faux Naïf

The subversive cinema takeover is back in Hackney this April with an even bigger celebration of women in underground scenes, goth, EBM and fetish culture Dalston institution The Rio Cinema has been part of cultural life in Hackney for half a century but in more recent years, it h … | Continue reading


@thequietus.com | 50 minutes ago

Part 1 - 3. More about variables

I completed "Part 1 - 3. More about variables" from the course: mooc.fi - Introduction to Programming This section teaches use of f-strings in Python to produce easily customisable variable driven output. Also end="" to prevent print statements terminating to new line - I've neve … | Continue reading


@lee-perry.co.uk | 51 minutes ago

Transforming into… what?

Transformational learning can lead to a fundamental shift in mindset, but without directionality what does this bring us in health education? Continue Reading Transforming into… what? | Continue reading


@rebeccanordquist.edublogs.org | 59 minutes ago

Amazon announces major change to its global operations: 'Speed and location matter'

Its latest February news release reflected on its 2024 sustainability investments in Europe. Amazon announces major change to its global operations: 'Speed and location matter' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 1 hour ago

A Brief History of 1970s Disaster Movies

I’m so old that I think of the art and science of modern-era movies according to whether they came before or after “Jaws” (1975) and “Star Wars” (1977). Partly that’s because those films made so much money that they changed the way films were marketed and released, but also becau … | Continue reading


@crimereads.com | 1 hour ago

The Role of Family Secrets in Crime Novels and Thrillers

Family secrets are the skeletons in the closet of crime and thriller fiction. They’re the whispered confessions, the buried truths, and the lies that fester over generations, only to explode into chaos when the past comes knocking. From Agatha Christie’s intricate family dramas t … | Continue reading


@crimereads.com | 1 hour ago

And Oh, About That Thing

What does it mean to live? Or better what does it mean to have a life beyond the typical ideas of say, a house or a home? Or how about what is life beyond the size of our bedroom, or to have a place to sleep, or something to eat or drink, or as the […] | Continue reading


@thewrittenaddiction.com | 1 hour ago

A Riff on Yeats for St. Paddy’s Day

by Nils Peterson Today (June 13) is W.B. Yeats’s birthday. He would have been 157. I am compelled to remark upon the similarities between Yeats, the Nobel prize winner, and Peterson, the scribbler in the corner. I quote from a short Yeats biography, “he was lackluster at school,” … | Continue reading


@3quarksdaily.com | 1 hour ago

It is Not Good to Read (Only) Alone

But there still remains room for us to read books in community today, | Continue reading


@frontporchrepublic.com | 1 hour ago

‘Layout Computer’ – Now with Casework

When Nick, a woodworker and LAP reader, first let us know about Layout Computer, his free digital chair design tool, I thought, “Wow – that’s nifty and would be awfully useful…if only I made chairs.” Well, now I think it’s unbearably cool and altogether useful, because Nick has a … | Continue reading


@blog.lostartpress.com | 1 hour ago

Scientists delighted by footage as rare creature approaches trail camera: 'So handsome'

"Great shot!' Scientists delighted by footage as rare creature approaches trail camera: 'So handsome' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 1 hour ago

🔗 It's still worth blogging in the age of AI

About programming, AI and devops | Continue reading


@yellowduck.be | 1 hour ago

The State Medical Board Has Evidence This Doctor Was Hurting Patients. It Renewed His License — Twice.

by J. David McSwane, ProPublica, and Mara Silvers, Montana Free Press ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re pu … | Continue reading


@propublica.org | 1 hour ago

Calibre 8.0 Can Now Convert EPUB E-books To Kobo KEPUB

Calibre 8.0 now supports converting EPUB books to Kobo-friendly KEPUB book format. The post Calibre 8.0 Can Now Convert EPUB E-books To Kobo KEPUB first appeared on Good e-Reader. | Continue reading


@goodereader.com | 1 hour ago

Extending my Komoot export script

I’ve taken another look at my export script for Komoot (original post), now that Bending Spoons has acquired Komoot. I’ve extended the script to also download cover images and, if available, an image of the map – I found that in the API responses. | Continue reading


@jlelse.blog | 1 hour ago

The EPA wants to roll back a rule that’s essential for protecting you from chemical disasters

Few regulations have been as subject to the yo-yo of successive presidential administrations and their political whims. | Continue reading


@grist.org | 1 hour ago

This revolutionary startup has unlocked the bill savings of rooftop solar without the enormous upfront costs: 'It is designed to save you money'

"Their price per kilowatt was better than the rest and they also had the best interest rate." This revolutionary startup has unlocked the bill savings of rooftop solar without the enormous upfront costs: 'It is designed to save you money' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 1 hour ago

Tangerine Dream’s Rubycon Half A Century On

Jeremy Allen considers the special plight of the brilliant album which commits the crime of only refining a sound when the previous album originated it “Today kids get an instrument and see what they can do with it. Then they look around and start to copy, which is okay to start … | Continue reading


@thequietus.com | 1 hour ago

Alzheimer’s prevention hope as drug cuts deadly disease onset in half

A long-term human trial has found that a discontinued drug halved the presentation of early-onset Alzheimer's disease in people with a genetic predisposition to the devastating condition. Right now, symptoms are almost 100% likely to develop in patients between the ages of 30 and … | Continue reading


@newatlas.com | 1 hour ago

Researchers discover surprising new use for leftover Valentine's Day roses: 'A wonderful untapped source'

"We didn’t see flowers that way." Researchers discover surprising new use for leftover Valentine's Day roses: 'A wonderful untapped source' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 1 hour ago

Farmers and small business owners were promised financial help for energy upgrades. They’re still waiting for the money.

Rural residents are left holding the bills for everything from solar panels to grain dryers. | Continue reading


@grist.org | 1 hour ago

Is the Universe Changing? Breakthrough Data Suggests Dark Energy Is Evolving

Using data from nearly 15 million galaxies and quasars, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has created the most detailed 3D map of the universe ever made. A new analysis combining DESI’s observations with other major cosmic datasets suggests that dark energy, the mys … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 1 hour ago

Throat clearing

Simply say it. The first minute of a speech, the first paragraph of a novel or the tuning of the orchestra before they begin… The performance improves if we skip that part. Sometimes, our throat actually needs clearing. But most of the time, we’re hooked on a ritual that doesn’t … | Continue reading


@seths.blog | 1 hour ago

Reissue of the Week: Expansions by Lonnie Liston Smith

Genre purism be damned – there is no surer evidence of jazz’s immortality than the enduring influence of Expansions, Lonnie Liston Smith’s ecstatic, eclectic and resolutely non-denominational call to spiritual arms, argues Stevie Chick If there’s a commonality shared by all the n … | Continue reading


@thequietus.com | 1 hour ago

The climate movement is talking about carbon all wrong, a new book argues

Carbon isn’t an enemy to “combat” or “tackle,” the environmentalist Paul Hawken writes, but the animating force of life. | Continue reading


@grist.org | 2 hours ago

Homeowners rave about ultra-efficient water heater after old tank gives out: 'Essentially heating your water for free'

"You'd be silly to not do it." Homeowners rave about ultra-efficient water heater after old tank gives out: 'Essentially heating your water for free' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Germany’s choice will define Europe’s path

The decisions made by the new Bundestag will determine whether Europe moves toward stronger unity and security, or risks deeper divisions and vulnerability. Germany’s recent Bundestag elections on February 23 weren’t just crucial for Germans—they shaped the future for Ukraine ami … | Continue reading


@emerging-europe.com | 2 hours ago

Video gives jaw-dropping look at technology behind high-speed trains: 'This is amazing'

"If you think 374 mph is too much, you’ve seen nothing yet." Video gives jaw-dropping look at technology behind high-speed trains: 'This is amazing' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Health officials issue warning on the hidden hazards of common home appliance: 'You may not be aware you are breathing it in'

"Power outages always bring a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning." Health officials issue warning on the hidden hazards of common home appliance: 'You may not be aware you are breathing it in' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Ph.D. student position on extreme precipitation in a changing cold climate! Using Bayesian modeling and computation! At the University of Iceland!

Birgir Hrafnkelsson writes: The Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland, seeks applicants to fill a PhD student position in Statistics for a project entitled: Sub-daily extreme precipitation in a changing cold climate. The project … Co … | Continue reading


@statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu | 2 hours ago

Homeowner shares stunning photo of transformation of arid front yard: 'That's so pretty'

"That’s one way to keep the cats out of the garden." Homeowner shares stunning photo of transformation of arid front yard: 'That's so pretty' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 2 hours ago

Cutting clean energy won't lower New England utility bills, advocates say

A growing chorus of New England state officials — and not just Republicans — is calling for cuts to clean energy programs in an attempt to rein in high electric bills. These efforts are underway everywhere from Maine, where legislators are trying to repeal incentives for rooftop … | Continue reading


@canarymedia.com | 2 hours ago

Chart: These states get more power from clean energy than coal

See more from Canary Media’s "Chart of the week” column . The U.S. hit a major energy-transition milestone last year: For the first time ever, it produced more electricity from wind and solar than from coal. Over half of U.S. states now get more power from breeze-blown turbines a … | Continue reading


@canarymedia.com | 2 hours ago

When you should use Safe Mode, and what it does

Claimed to block 3rd-party extensions and customisations from loading, check the startup disk, and to clear some system caches. When and why should you use it? | Continue reading


@eclecticlight.co | 2 hours ago

You can cash in on rewards from your favorite brands — all you have to do is send this company your unwanted clothes

"We'll take it as long as it doesn't have extreme biohazard or soil … that we can’t recycle." You can cash in on rewards from your favorite brands — all you have to do is send this company your unwanted clothes first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

The Most Iconic Electronic Music Sample of Every Year (1990–2024)

Hear a second or two of Vernon Burch’s “Get Up,” and you’re back in 1990; of “Balance and Rehearsal” from the JBL sound-test album Session, and you’re back in 1999; of Eddie Johns’ “More Spell on You,” and you’re back in 2001. What, you don’t know any of those songs? Perhaps you’ … | Continue reading


@openculture.com | 3 hours ago

Life Sim Game Inzoi Has A Limited-Time Demo Ahead Of Early Access Release

Krafton’s upcoming life sim game Inzoi (or “inZOI”) has a demo of sorts available, for a limited time, with an inconvenient way of unlocking it. The Inzoi Creative Studio is available now until March 28, 8 AM Malaysia Time (+8 GMT). This gives you access to Inzoi’s customisation … | Continue reading


@gamermatters.com | 3 hours ago

Scientists Trick the Brain With a Fake Hand – And Pain Disappears

Could an illusion help relieve pain? Researchers in Germany tested the “rubber hand illusion,” a bizarre trick where people start believing a fake hand is part of their body. Instead of using touch to trigger the illusion, they applied heat and red light, discovering that this st … | Continue reading


@scitechdaily.com | 3 hours ago

Tech career growth: Networking, AI tools, and the power of community

Taylor Desseyn, VP of Global Development at Torc, sat down with the All Things Open team to share insights on building developer communities, the power of networking, and leveraging AI... Read More The post Tech career growth: Networking, AI tools, and the power of community appe … | Continue reading


@allthingsopen.org | 3 hours ago

Homeowner shocked after learning about dangers of 'kid-friendly' backyard material: 'That garbage is banned in many, many places'

"I haven’t seen it used in years." Homeowner shocked after learning about dangers of 'kid-friendly' backyard material: 'That garbage is banned in many, many places' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

Brain scans suggest babies remember more than we thought

Why don’t we remember specific events during those crucial first few years, when our brains worked overtime to learn so much? A new Yale study finds evidence that we do form memories, but can’t retrieve them. Continue Reading Category: Biology, Science Tags: Memory, Brain, Neuros … | Continue reading


@newatlas.com | 3 hours ago

Homeowner searches for answers after HVAC rep offers strange advice on replacing furnace: 'The silliest pseudoscience that I have heard yet'

"It sucks that the field seems to be filled with old cranks that don't want to learn anything new." Homeowner searches for answers after HVAC rep offers strange advice on replacing furnace: 'The silliest pseudoscience that I have heard yet' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

Walmart employee vents after being told customer's request is against company policy: 'Sounds like you have some funky stuff going on at your store'

Many commenters thought it was strange. Walmart employee vents after being told customer's request is against company policy: 'Sounds like you have some funky stuff going on at your store' first appeared on The Cool Down. | Continue reading


@thecooldown.com | 3 hours ago

Bugatti finally bolts 8 exhausts onto its $4-million Tourbillon

Bugatti wowed the supercar world with its horology-inspired 1,800-hp Tourbillon last June. For those who weren't impressed by its hybrid V16 power plant and Swiss-made watchmaker instrument cluster, there's now even more excess on offer in the form of the Équipe Pur Sang package. … | Continue reading


@newatlas.com | 3 hours ago