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A big thanks to @mightpossibly, for granting us the free access to use the #aisummaries tool to feed in YouTube entertainment video on this cast.
i actually wanted to make my very first blog Plus video. It was a longer video please blog but I tried since morning it didn't work. I had to use 3speak main website but it's in encoding
Does Revival or Retirement Await James Bond at Amazon?
James Bond in the hands of an American company: shock horror! Amazon's takeover of Britain's iconic Bond franchise has Her Majesty's subjects worried, with some wondering whether 007 still has a future.
After months of wrangling between the films' producers and Amazon MGM studio, extensively reported in the British press, the final blow fell on Thursday: the American giant will now preside over the destiny of the world's best-known spy.
And it can do as it pleases -- the Broccoli family, which has until now defended the franchise that exported the myth of MI6 glamour worldwide, has ceded creative control to Amazon.
This move has shaken media in the spy's homeland: the day after the deal was announced, daily The Independent asked whether by taking control of the franchise, Amazon had "buried" it.
To tousle something is to dishevel it—that is, to make it untidy or unkempt. Tousle is usually, though not always, used specifically when a person’s hair is being so treated.
//Vic stood in front of the mirror and tousled his hair, trying to get a cool, disheveled look.
So if you still keep your coins on centralized exchanges, especially after the ByBit hack, why are you even in crypto? Go trade stocks and suck banker’s dingies,
I had to google the names , the companies are not present apparently in 🇪🇺 . There are similar models.
They are looking like good decent coffee maker for filter coffee! 👍
It's funny, my daughter and her boyfriend are accumulating stuff and putting it in storage for when they get a place. She is like "see dad, we are adulting", LOL!
In the last 48 hours we've burn about 40k worth of gifu, which continuously reduces the total supply of the token, also later today we'll be initiating another buyback.
#gifu #buy #burn
You need to make use of it.
Yam, cocoyam, plantain, water leaf, cassava, pepper, spinach and pumpkin too. Note that they need adequate sunlight to thrive.
I also saw some stuff about actifit. I think it would be a nice thing to add that to inleo and people auto post their exercise as threads to motivate others to hit the gym. What do you think
There are a lot going on here, and so many communities involved too.
!BBHThat happens too. People share short videos #leoshorts of their exercises. Some also share their post links here.
Yes you can do that along with adding the YouTube summaries like you are. Anything that you can post that is newsworthy on threads is worthwhile. Of course, in here we deal with science and technology but outside of that can go elsewhere on the site.
Awesome, I see some people put up threadcast for general purpose niche so I will be including that. I'm happy to help build Leo ai. When is it coming out if I may ask
The Athenian relationship with Sparta was ruined when the Spartans asked Athens not to re-build its walls and they were ignored. Sparta reasoned that Athens would be less willing to fight if it felt protected. Then, the Spartan earthquake of 464 B.C. led to the Messenian revolt which threatened the entire Spartan culture. Athens sent an army under Cimon, but the Spartans became suspicious of Athenian motives and sent the hoplites home. Next, Athens attempted to expand its empire by land, but failed when the territory became greater than the Athenian army could manage. When Athens was defeated in a land battle with Boetia in 447 B.C, it gave up imperialism by land and signed a thirty year treaty with Sparta.
New pressure was put on the members of the Delian League. Member fees were raised and members forced to use Athenian coinage. Athens further ignored the autonomy of the members by influencing their political systems. When the opportunity arose, democracies were pushed. Pericles took 5,000 talents from the Delian League treasury and earmarked it for the beautification of Athens. Another 200 talents per year were allocated to Athens for its management of the treasury and league members were forced to subsidize payment for the 10,000 Athenian rowers who were part of their navy.
Music is the exact kind of content creator that Substack is trying to lure to its platform as TikTok's future in the U.S. remains in limbo.
San Francisco-based Substack launched in 2017 as a tool for newsletter writers to charge readers a monthly fee to read their content. The platform allows creators to connect to their followers directly without having to navigate algorithmic models that control when their content is shown, as is the case on TikTok, Google's YouTube and other social platforms. Substack has raised about $100 million, most recently at a post-money valuation of more than $650 million, the company told CNBC.
This year, Substack has broadened its focus beyond newsletters, and on Thursday, it announced that creators can now post video content directly through the Substack app and monetize these videos.
"There's going to be a world of people who are much more focused on videos," Substack Co-founder Hamish McKenzie told CNBC. "That is a huge world that Substack is only starting to penetrate."
Substack began this push after the social media landscape was thrown into flux as a result of the effective ban of TikTok in January that caused the popular Chinese-owned service to go offline for a few hours. TikTok was also removed from Apple and Google's app stores for nearly a month.
On the whole, the lower classes supported this imperialistic philosophy. Many of the members of the 500 were merchants and saw their own interests advanced with the expanding Athenian influence. But there were protests also. In 443 B.C, Pericles almost lost his power when a vote was taken to ostracize him. He survived the vote and continued to advance his own program. Protests against government policies eventually died out but there remained an undercurrent of complaints against the immoral imperialism.
The disruption to TikTok in January happened as a result of a law signed by former President Joe Biden to force a sale of the Chinese-owned app or have it effectively banned in the U.S. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending TikTok's ability to operate in the U.S., but that order expires on April 5.
Days after TikTok went offline, Substack launched a $20 million fund to court creators to its platform.
By the time of the Peloponnesian War, Athens had ceded the moral high ground to Sparta. She had violated the notion of the Polis as a self-contained unit when she adopted an imperialist philosophy. Her hands were full keeping the empire in order when she needed to spend all her energy fighting the Spartans.
The first factor is the non-destructive behavior of the tyrants who ruled from 561 B.C. to 510. Despite the cruel reign of Hippias (514 B.C.-510), the tyrants did not slow down democratization. They did not make significant changes to the governmental structure and ruled in a way that was satisfying to the Athenian people. Herodotus remarked,
“Not having disturbed the existing magistrates nor changed the ancient laws… they administered the State under that constitution of things which was already established, ordering it fairly and well”
Aristotle wrote, of Peisistratus, that “his administration was temperate…and more like constitutional government than a tyranny.”
The Athenian Polis did not go backward under the tyrants, so it did not have to regain ground before it could advance.
"If TikTok gets banned for political reasons, there's nothing to do with the work you've done, but it really affects your life," McKenzie said. "The only and surefire guard against that is if you don't place your audience in the hands of some other volatile system who doesn't care about what happens to your livelihood."
Moving beyond newsletters
McKenzie says that they are going after creators on competing social media platforms to start sharing their video content on Substack.
"Video-first creators, people who are mobile oriented, there's a whole lot of new possibility waiting to be unlocked once they meet this model in the right place," McKenzie said.
Already, Substack has more than 4 million paid subscriptions with over 50,000 creators who make money on the platform, the company said. Substack says that 82% of its top 250 revenue-generating creators have already integrated audio or video into their content, reflecting a growing emphasis on multimedia content.
Prior to the video announcements, Substack allowed creators to post videos on the app to Notes, which is the platform's front-facing feed format. But the feature did not allow creators to publish video content behind Substack's paywalls.
The second factor was the political reforms of Clisthenes in 508 B.C. After the fall of the tyrants, Isagoras, a noble, tried to reverse the rising independence of the lower classes. This effort was blocked in 508 by Clisthenes, a member of the Alcmeonid family, who assumed the leadership position. Clisthenes intended to permanently break the power of local social units in favor of the state, and to make sure power was permanently placed in the hands of the people. He organized the populace into demes or political units numbering about 170. Clisthenes required that each tribe contain demes located in the country, the city, and the coast so that self-interest was equally distributed.
He also established a council of 500, consisting of 50 men from each tribe. The 500 were chosen by lot to make sure the elected asemblymen were independent. The council had responsibility for preparing bills for the assembly and supervising public business.
These reforms were tested immediately when Athens was attacked by Boetia and Chalcis in 506 B.C. Both were defeated and balance between the classes held.
The third factor strengthening the polis was the war with Persia. Even though Athens was attacked and occupied in 480 B.C, the unity created to fight a common enemy strengthened the bond between all the Athenian people.
The fourth and final factor was the reforms of Pericles after 461 B.C. Pericles, an aristocrat, had the gifts of intelligence and leadership. He became the leader of the council of ten generals and served as the de facto leader of Athens until his death in 429 B.C. During his tenure, he passed laws allowing poor citizens to attend plays for free, and began a system of compensation for magistrates and jurors. This allowed a broader spectrum of the populace to participate in their government. He also lowered the property qualification for the archonship to help breakup the monopoly of the aristocratic class. The time of Pericles has been labeled the Golden Age of Athens because the stable, open democracy provided the fuel for Athenian intellectual devlopment.
The update enables creators to put video content behind a paywall and it provides data on estimated revenue impact. It also allows them to track viewership and new subscribers.
Carla Lalli Music is a cookbook writer and food creator.
The push by Substack into video is a welcomed development for creators like Music, who was losing money from making videos for YouTube.
Music said each video costs her $3,500 to produce despite filming at home. If she published four videos a month on YouTube, she'd earn about $4,000 in revenue. Music was losing about $10,000 a month, she said.
Two qualifications need to be put on that label, however. In the first place, the intellectual advancement of Athens did not start with Pericles, but was in full bloom one hundred years before him. This suggests that a sense of freedom and the support of free thought were in place during the time of the tyrants.
Secondly, the reign of Pericles signals the beginning of the end for Athens. After the Persian War, it became more imperialistic and sought to extend its power around the Aegean. That eventually caused a confrontation with Sparta setting up the Peloponnesian War and the defeat of the Athenians. Sadly, the “Golden Age” was both the pinnacle and the beginning of the end for Athens. Greed and the desire for power had corrupted once again.
"It's really depressing to operate at a loss," said Music.
Even with brand deals, which is an agreement where brands pay creators to post content that promotes their products, the earnings were barely enough to recoup the costs of posting on YouTube, Music said.
More than half of the $290 billion creator economy comes from direct-to-fan value. That includes ticket sales, courses, livestreams and paid memberships, according to a survey conducted by Patreon, a Substack competitor.
With her shift to Substack, Music said she's now focused on writing another book, posting recipes behind the platform's paywall and sprinkling in occasional videos.
"I have a lot more to benefit from focused attention on a smaller group of people than I ever did on throwing stuff and seeing what was going to stick with billions of potential audience members," Music said. "It's more sustainable."
"We believe that our Proposal provides compelling value and immediate liquidity to the Company's public stockholders," Wojcicki and Matthew Holt, managing director and president of private equity at New Mountain, wrote in a letter to the special committee on Thursday.
Wojcicki previously submitted a proposal to take the company private for 40 cents per share in July, but it was rejected by the special committee, in part because the members said it lacked committed financing and did not provide a premium to the closing price at the time.
Analysts at Elliptic later linked the attack to North Korea's Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking collective notorious for siphoning billions of dollars from the cryptocurrency industry. The group is known for exploiting security vulnerabilities to finance North Korea's regime, often using sophisticated laundering methods to obscure the flow of funds.
"We've labelled the thief's addresses in our software, to help to prevent these funds from being cashed-out through any other exchanges," said Tom Robinson, chief scientist at Elliptic, in an email.
Symposium was an ancient Greek drinking party (sympotein means "to drink together”) typically held by men of means to celebrate special occasions, such as the coming of age of their sons. They also served an important social function in the Polis because they brought groups of men together for debate, argument, and political strategizing.
Symposia were held in the part of a Greek house that was for men only. Guests would enter, recline on couches, and talk while they were served food and wine. After the meal was finished, wine continued to be served as the participants were entertained by singers, musicians, slaves, or hired performers.
The breach immediately triggered a rush of withdrawals from Bybit as users feared potential insolvency. Zhou said outflows had stabilized. To reassure customers, he announced that Bybit had secured a bridge loan from undisclosed partners to cover any unrecoverable losses and maintain operations.
The Lazarus Group's history of targeting crypto platforms dates back to 2017, when the group infiltrated four South Korean exchanges and stole $200 million worth of bitcoin. As law enforcement agencies and crypto tracking firms work to trace the stolen assets, industry experts warn that large-scale thefts remain a fundamental risk.
One person, designated as the Symposiarch, was responsible for keeping the revelry under control. He managed the servants and the dilution of the wine. Greeks never drank wine full strength because they thought only drunkards and people of low quality would do so. The typical dilution was 1:3 wine to water.
The Kylix was a drinking vessel used to drink water or wine. When the Greeks copied drinking vessels from the orient, they added handles and a base. The handles were held when drinking, the base when toasting. The Kylix had an image painted in the bottom (often erotic) so as the drinker empted the vessel, the image would be revealed. It was also used in a game called kottabos where the wine residue was tossed from it to a target.
Shares of Hims & Hers tumble 26% after FDA says semaglutide is no longer in shortage
Shares of Hims & Hers Health closed down around 26% on Friday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the shortage of semaglutide injection products has been resolved.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic. Those medications are part of a class of drugs called GLP-1s, and demand for the treatments has exploded in recent years. As a result, digital health companies such as Hims & Hers have been prescribing compounded semaglutide as an alternative for patients who are navigating volatile supply hurdles and insurance obstacles.
The Psykter was used to hold wine during the festivities. It was placed inside a Krater filled with ice or snow to keep the wine cool. Servants would ladle wine out of the Psykter and pour it into a Kylix.
The Greek playwright Euboulos listed Dionysus’ rules for proper drinking at a Symposium:
For sensible men I prepare three Kraters: one for health, one for love
and pleasure, and the third for sleep.
After the third one is drained, wise men go home.
The fourth Krater is not mine because it belongs to bad behavior.
The fifth is for shouting, the sixth for rudeness and insults, the seventh
for fights,
Compounded drugs are custom-made alternatives to brand-name drugs designed to meet a specific patient's needs, and compounders are allowed to produce them when brand-name treatments are in shortage. The FDA doesn't review the safety and efficacy of compounded products.
Hims & Hers began offering compounded semaglutide to patients in May, and it owns compounding pharmacies that produce the medications.
Compounded medications are typically much cheaper than their branded counterparts. Hims & Hers sells compounded semaglutide for less than $200 per month, while Ozempic and Wegovy both cost around $1,000 per month without insurance.
The FDA said Friday that it will start taking action against compounders for violations in the next 60 to 90 days, depending on the type of facility, in order to "avoid unnecessary disruption to patient treatment."
"Now that the FDA has determined the drug shortage for semaglutide has been resolved, we will continue to offer access to personalized treatments as allowed by law to meet patient needs," Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum posted Friday on X. "We're also closely monitoring potential future shortages, as Novo Nordisk stated two weeks ago that it would continue to have 'capacity limitations' and 'expected continued periodic supply constraints and related drug shortage notifications.'"
Him & Hers' weight loss offerings have been a massive hit with investors. Shares of the company climbed more than 200% last year, and the stock is already up more than 100% this year despite Friday's move.
Even before it added compounded GLP-1s to its portfolio, the company said in its 2023 fourth-quarter earnings call that it expects its weight loss program to bring in more than $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025.
Despite the turbulent regulatory landscape, Hims & Hers has showed no signs of slowing down.
On Friday, the company announced it has acquired a U.S.-based peptide facility that will "further verticalize the company's long-term ability to deliver personalized medications." Hims & Hers will explore advances across metabolic optimization, recovery science, biological resistances, cognitive performance and preventative health through the acquisition, the company said.
That move comes just days after Hims & Hers also bought Trybe Labs, the New Jersey-based at-home lab testing facility. Trybe Labs will allow Hims & Hers to perform at-home blood draws and more comprehensive pretreatment testing.
Hims & Hers did not disclose the terms of either deal.
Why is GaN important?
GaN is a third-generation semiconductor material commonly used in 5G base stations, radar, military communications, aerospace, and electronic warfare. It is better than silicon in specific applications due to its ability to operate at higher voltages, frequencies, and temperatures.
At present, major world powers, like the United States, rely heavily on GaN for advanced chips. This makes it strategically important in the ongoing U.S.-China tech rivalry.
China controls around 98% of global gallium production and has recently banned exports to the U.S. This has driven up the cost of GaN-based semiconductors, making it harder for the U.S. (especially the Pentagon) to source affordable chips.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warns that the economic impact will be significant, affecting industries that rely on GaN-based chips.
The team made their discovery thanks to a clever use of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Using this technology, they observed atomic-scale dislocations for the first time.
They discovered that “tuning the Fermi level” (adjusting the energy levels of electrons) can control the climbing process and reduce defects. This “Fermi energy level” can be likened to the “water level” of the electronic world.
Review of the novel The Lost Throne
I was given a copy of The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski and asked to review it by the publisher. I don’t usually take time to read fiction (reality is more interesting), but I thought I’d give it a try. Turns out the book is a real page turner even at 500 pages and 70 chapters.
In the beginning of the book two pal ex-special forces guys get a mysterious phone call from St. Petersburg, Russia. A strange man asks for help but before they can respond, he is killed. They find out the dead man was accompanied by a young woman who is trapped in Russia and in fear of her life. They know immediately they will have to go get her.
A big deal for China
It marks the highest stable energy electrons can have. It determines whether and how easily a semiconductor conducts electricity. By introducing specific impurities and increasing gate voltage, they minimized dislocations in GaN fabrication.
“Traditional strategies to avoid defects include using different substrates and adjusting crystallization temperatures, but these approaches only address the symptoms, not the cause,” said Professor Huang Bing with the Beijing Computational Science Research Centre on Tuesday.
If China can perfect low-cost, high-quality GaN manufacturing, it could widen the semiconductor price gap, making Chinese chips more competitive. Since the U.S. depends on GaN for military applications, these developments could increase China’s strategic advantage in electronics and defense.
If reports on the findings are accurate, it marks a significant step toward improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of GaN-based semiconductors. If China can mass-produce high-quality GaN chips, it could increase its lead in semiconductor technology, especially in military and 5G applications.
Meanwhile, a senior Interpol agent is sent to Meteora Greece to investigate the murder of seven monks at one of its rock-top monasteries. He arrives at the scene and tries to unravel the evidence. Seven bodies are found: all headless. Where are the heads and why were the monks killed in this way?
The two plots alternated with each new chapter as I wondered when they would intersect. Greece is at the center of it as we spend time in Meteora, Mt. Athos (the holy site of 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries), and Sparta. With regard to the latter, we discover in the mountains above the modern city an ancient sect of Spartans who are still trained by the agoge and wear the Spartan armor.
Mitsubishi is actually an awesome brand. They were ALWAYS behind in sales volume after Honda, Toyota Subaru and Nissan,so no surprises there. Mitsubishi gives you strong warranty and handsome cars. They are not 0-60 oriented but definitely good on value. Mitsubishi has no reason to go extinct besides they do much more than sell cars worldwide.
Also pops was right to point out that Fiat and Maserati sell strong in Europe-specially Fiat so the stock of Stellantis appears to welcome the cuts and is up.
Everything has a shelf life, companies included! There are several brands that aren't doing so hot in today's car market, and Ray and Zach are here to highlight FIVE of them, as well as some honorable mentions that aren't faring quite as badly. Will any of these companies bite the dust per Ray and Zach, or will they be saved somehow??
China’s new hypersonic missile-capable submarine challenges US in Philippines: Report
A new Chinese submarine under construction in Wuhan may be equipped with advanced hypersonic Typhon missiles, potentially shifting the regional security balance.
A recently revealed Chinese submarine, speculated to carry hypersonic missiles, signals a significant shift in naval deterrence strategy amid escalating regional military activity.
While the PLA has not confirmed the development of this larger submarine class, a report in Naval & Merchant Ships, a publication owned by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, describes its design and capabilities, indirectly confirming its existence and purpose.
New Chinese submarine could respond to US missile threat
A report published earlier this month suggests the submarine is meant to strengthen China’s naval power in response to the increasing foreign military presence in the region. It highlights the US deployment of Typhon missile launchers on Luzon Island in the Philippines during a joint exercise last April. These launchers can fire long-range multipurpose missiles capable of striking targets in China, Russia, and North Korea, the South China Morning Post reported.
According to the report, the new submarine is capable of carrying advanced hypersonic missiles, allowing for covert strikes beyond enemy defenses and the option to deploy nuclear warheads if needed. Working with other military forces, it will help deter enemy carrier groups and bases within the first island chain.
Beijing criticizes US Typhon missile systems in the Philippines
During wartime, the submarine could perform some roles of nuclear submarines, including saturation attacks on surface ships and long-range precision strikes on land targets, such as US missile defense systems in the northern Philippines.
Beijing has consistently criticized the US deployment of Typhon launchers on Luzon Island, calling for their removal and labeling the system as “a strategic asset and an offensive weapon.”
The US is also negotiating the deployment of Typhon systems in Japan, Germany, and Denmark as part of a broader strategy to “deter by denial” – aiming to block key passages into and out of the western Pacific to counter China when necessary.
The two sub-plots finally came together in an exciting climax which made the read thoroughly enjoyable. A little spy stuff, some intrigue, murder, and a lot of history make for an interesting stew.
My only criticism of the novel is the number of cliff-hanger chapter endings. I felt frustrated by having the story line cut off as the author did his tease. A few times I wanted to skip ahead and find out how the chapter ending was resolved but held myself back. The chapters aren’t long enough to make the wait intolerable.
To counter military actions near its borders, the Chinese navy has significantly expanded its strategic and tactical weapons, emphasizing long-range, covert, and precise strikes against enemy homelands and overseas bases.
The air-independent propulsion system could prove especially useful in the disputed South China Sea, which has an average depth of over 3,900 feet and complex underwater features like islands, reefs, and deep trenches, creating a challenging but strategically valuable environment for stealth operations.
Solon the Reformer and his Republic
In 632 B.C, the opportunist Cylon tried to establish himself as tyrant of Athens, and failed.
By 600, Athens was in disarray. The last decades had seen the Athenian pottery trade fall behind their Corinthian competition, and its aristocratic class become more ruthless. Poor farmers were becoming serfs of the rich when they could not pay their debts, and the landless were enslaved and sold abroad. Territorial groups could not be controlled by the weak central government so the Polis split into factions.
The time was right, once again, for a tyrant to emerge. A man was put forward by his followers in their quest for a tyrant leader, but he defied them instead. That man took it upon himself to try to fix the polis single-handed -- to create a republic instead of a democracy. That man was Solon.
To understand this phenomenon in detail, the UC San Diego team developed a technique called time-resolved vortex electron diffraction.
Unlike conventional methods that involve using ordinary electron beams, this approach uses vortex electrons—special electrons that spin as they travel, similar to how a tornado spirals. This spiral motion allows scientists to detect even tiny changes in electron behavior.
“The key idea behind this approach is the use of a specialized electron beam that spirals as it travels, enabling precise tracking of electron motion in both space and time,” the researchers note.
As the electrons move, scientists can take multiple snapshots (detect signals) of the vortex electron movement at different moments in time. Then, by analyzing these diffraction patterns, they can reconstruct how electrons behave inside molecules over time.
Global fuel cell research and challenges
Global research on fuel cell technology has intensified lately. Honda is not the only automobile giant that is working on a new fuel cell system.
Recently, Toyota, another leading Japanese automaker, has also launched its third-generation fuel cell system (3rd Gen FC System), which delivers two times more durability than the prior generation.
According to Toyota, the new fuel cell can deliver 20% more cruising range and will be expanded for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as well.
In another effort, Japanese researchers have developed a new material that could dramatically improve fuel cell technology.
Considering that recent closures of several hydrogen pumps come as a challenge for hydrogen-powered vehicles, Honda’s latest fuel cell technology is a major development.
This innovative robotic system developed by the research team could lead to the creation of similar robots using piezoelectric materials. Looking ahead, the team aims to improve the robot’s design to enable it to function effectively in extreme temperatures, harsh climates, or hazardous environments, making it ideal for industrial use or search and rescue missions.
Watch US firm’s humanoid robot perfectly serve coffee, clean house, hold talks
The new design features Emotive Ear Rings to improve communication.
ASan Francisco Bay-based firm has introduced its latest humanoid robot that’s designed for household chores. Developed by 1X Technologies, NEO Gamma is the next generation of humanoids.
The company has revealed that the Gamma series includes improvements across NEO’s hardware and AI, featuring a new design that is deeply considerate of life at home.
NEO can now walk with a natural human gait and arm swings, squat down to pick things up from the ground and sit in chairs, according to 1X Technologies.
Robot comes outfitted with soft covers
The latest robot comes outfitted with soft covers to reduce impact on the surrounding environment and increase overall safety.
The company trained a visual manipulation model capable of picking up a large variety of objects in different scenarios, including environments not seen during training. NEO Gamma leverages neural networks trained to predict teleoperated actions directly from raw sensor data.
The company trained a visual manipulation model capable of picking up a large variety of objects in different scenarios, including environments not seen during training. NEO Gamma leverages neural networks trained to predict teleoperated actions directly from raw sensor data.
NEO Gamma’s Companion feature set integrates a new in-house language model that enables natural conversation and body language. The robot’s design opens the door to start internal home testing—a first step in creating fully autonomous humanoids.
Børnich highlighted that the home provides real-world context and the diversity of data needed for humanoids to grow in intelligence and autonomy. It also teaches them the nuances of human life—how to open the door for the elderly, move carefully around pets, or adapt to the unpredictability of the surrounding world.
Børnich underlined that the robots confined to industrial space or lab development miss out on this critical understanding.
“With NEO Gamma, every engineering and design decision was made with one goal in mind: getting NEO into customers’ homes as quickly as possible… We’re close. We can’t wait to share more soon,” said Børnich.
10x increase in hardware reliability
NEO Gamma features significant hardware upgrades, making it quieter, more reliable, and well-suited to deliver a consumer product experience.
The company claims that the robot boasts a 10x increase in hardware reliability and a 10 dB decrease in noise, bringing NEO’s operating levels down to the level of a refrigerator.
The robot features four microphones (front, back, left, and right) with beamforming and echo cancellation, ensuring crystal-clear audio capture and A three-speaker system—one in the chest for AI voice interactions and two outward-facing speakers in the pelvis for bass, 360-degree sound effects, and music.
He was an educated and a successful businessman: an aristocrat who wrote poetry. According to Plutarch, Solon had four character traits seldom found in one man: patriotism, integrity, political genius, and intelligence. And we must not leave out ambition – he wanted the job of saving the Athenian state.
Solon was elected first Archon in 594 B.C. and immediately set to work remaking the Athenian government. His fellow aristocrats were confident he would serve their interests until be began canceling the debts of the poor farmers. He devalued the mina giving relief to the landless poor, and received from the stunned power brokers supreme authority over all offices of the government for the remainder of the year. The government of Athens was now in the hands of a single individual.
This setup enables the robot, so it is reported, to be both flexible and adaptable, allowing it to react and adapt to situations on the fly. The robot also has a whole suite of body sensors that help it constantly analyze its surroundings.
This, coupled with the robot’s ability to extend and contract autonomously under force to maintain pressure with the pipe wall, allows the robot’s legs to adjust as the pipe diameter changes.
“It adjusts the position, speed, and force output of all joints in the whole body to enable the robot to move smoothly in the space station pipeline,” the agency added.
The successful test reportedly verified key technologies and demonstrated the robot’s ability to autonomously adapt and move safely in the space station’s complex pipeline environment. It also provided valuable data for future practical applications.
The robot also has a special safety feature that enables it to be extracted from pipework in an emergency. According to reports, the Shenzhou-19 crew reported that this worked as anticipated.
Unfortunately, silicon which is a key material in chips and electronic circuits has a high dielectric constant. “Because the dielectric constant of silicon is much higher than that of air, most terahertz waves are reflected at the silicon-air boundary rather than being cleanly transmitted out the back,” the study authors said.
A common approach to improve THz wave transmission is to use silicon lenses, which focus and enhance wave power. These lenses not only generate terahertz waves but also boost their radiating power allowing them to cover long distances.
However, there’s a catch. Due to their size and cost, silicon lenses can’t be integrated with electronic chips. Therefore one can’t use terahertz waves generated by these lenses for data transfer or any other electronic purpose.
“Such (silicon) lenses, which are often larger than the chip itself, make it hard to integrate the terahertz source into an electronic device,” the study authors said.
Next, they used a laser cutter to create microscopic holes in the sheet, adjusting its properties so that it matched the THz waves more effectively. Finally, they incorporated high-frequency transistors, developed by Intel, which improved the generation and transmission of THz waves.
“These two things taken together, the more powerful transistors and the dielectric sheet, plus a few other small innovations, enabled us to outperform several other devices,” Jinchen Wang, lead study author and a graduate student, said.
This new design led to stronger and more efficient THz signals compared to existing methods.
But the balance of forces could not last. When he returned to Athens as an old man in 561, Solon witnessed the fake assassination of Peisistratus and insisted the young man didn’t need a bodyguard. Solon was ignored and Peisistratus became tyrant of Athens.
Peisistratus was ousted from political office and exiled twice during his reign. The first occurrence happened circa 555 B.C. after two political factions, normally at odds with each other, joined forces and removed him from power. He was exiled for several years, returned to power for a time, and then was exiled again. After ten years he returned in force, regained his tyranny, and held his power until his death in 527 B.C. Hippias succeeded his father in 527 BC, and with his brother Hipparchus, ruled jointly until the latter was murdered by Harmodius and Aristogeiton (the Tyrannicides) in 514 BC. Hippias executed the Tyrannicides and became a bitter and cruel ruler.
The exiled Alcmaeonid family helped to depose the Athenian tyranny for good by bribing the Delphic oracle to tell the Spartans to liberate Athens, which they did in 510 BC.
Musk Gives Federal Workers 48 Hours to Justify Their Jobs
Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to Donald Trump, said Saturday that all US federal employees must justify their work or lose their jobs, hours after the president pushed him to be "more aggressive" in slashing government spending.
Musk -- the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor -- has led the effort to fire swaths of the government workforce.
"All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation," Musk wrote.
According to a copy of the email provided to AFP, federal workers were asked to submit "approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week."
Why did these tyrants appear? As we have discussed before, the early Poleis were generally controlled by an aristocracy in a delicate political balance with the common people. As people will do, the aristocracies tended to become more oppressive, leading to popular support for someone who could take power on their behalf. These tyrannies attempted to continue as hereditary models but failed because of uneven governance. The failure of class balance is evidence that the early Poleis did not have enough democracy in them to create long term stability, which would come later.
These cases demand an alternate definition of the word “tyrant” which generally carries a negative connotation. The Greek examples often involved benevolent leaders who improved the conditions in their Polis and/or championed the rights of the lower class rather than being power hungry and destructive.
Kelley slammed Musk and the Trump administration, saying the move showed "their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people."
"It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life," he said.
Several federal employees told AFP they were advised by their agencies not to respond to the email and wait for further instruction, a recommendation echoed by the National Treasury Employees Union.
"I have so much work to do, I am not going to neglect actual patient care for this drama," a physician at the Department of Veterans Affairs, who received the email, told AFP.
The Polis as the Engine of the Intellect – Part III
We now turn out attention to describing the city-state physically.
The polis was a defined geographical unit, the boundaries of which were known to its citizens, located in an Asty or concentration of urban dwellings. Prior to the Polis, tribes defined separate rallying points for military, religious, or political purposes. With the emergence of the city-state, however, these functions became concentrated in one place. Courts became centrally located and geographically separated religious functions were brought together in the temple of the state gods.
New FBI Director Kash Patel Will Also be Named Acting Head of the ATF
New FBI Director Kash Patel is expected to be named the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a Justice Department official said Saturday.
Patel could be sworn in next week, the official said, putting Patel in charge of two of the Justice Department's largest agencies in an unusual arrangement that raises questions about the future of the bureau that has long drawn the ire of conservatives.
The Justice Department official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the move before it's announced publicly. White House officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday evening.
Patel was sworn in Friday as FBI director after winning Senate approval despite Democrats' concerns about the steadfast Trump ally's plans to radically overhaul the FBI.
The Polis as the Engine of the Intellect – Part II
In the last post we established background for the growth of the Polis. The key ingredients for this included the establishment of an aristocratic class that was wealthy and powerful, the strengthening of a lower class of small farmers through numbers, and a setting of isolation which allowed the Polis to incubate undisturbed. With the foundation laid, we now move on to the process.
We start with the most fundamental element – the decline of personal leadership. In many evolving societies, the same situation would have seen the central leader become dominant, the early Roman Republic and its Etruscan kings serving as a good example. In other sitiations, personal leadership succeeded because it was supported from the outside and gained power artificially.
But personal leadership did not survive in Archaic Greece.
ATF is a separate agency with about 5,500 employees and is responsible for enforcing the nation's laws around firearms, explosives and arson. Among other things, it's in charge of licensing federal firearms dealers, tracing guns used in crimes and analyzing intelligence in shooting investigations.
The move was first reported Saturday by ABC News.
The news comes days after Attorney General Pam Bondi fired the ATF's top lawyer. Bondi said in a Fox News interview Friday that she fired chief counsel Pamela Hicks because the agency was “targeting gun owners.” Hicks, who spent more than 20 years as a Justice Department lawyer, said in a social media post that being ATF chief counsel was the “highest honor” of her career.
Gun safety groups have raised alarm about putting Patel in charge of the FBI, with gun control group Brady calling him a “known gun rights extremist.” Gun Owners of America, a gun rights group, called his confirmation as FBI director “a major victory for gun owners and constitutional rights advocates nationwide."
The last confirmed ATF director was Steve Dettelbach, a former federal prosecutor, who led the agency from July 2022 until last month. He was the first confirmed director since 2015 as both Republican and Democratic administrations failed to get nominees through the politically fraught process.
We know that the words of Hesiod are pre-Polis because they describe an age of kings. We also know that there was an increase in the tempo of artistic activity around 700 B.C, which may have been linked to the new freedoms of the Polis. Lastly, we know that the creation of the Phalanx (circa 700 B.C.) roughly coincided with the beginning of the Polis. Perhaps the Phalanx was the final key to creating balance between the classes -- a balance which faciliated the building of a cooperative political system.
Tom Homan to Newsmax: Security Should Be Nonpartisan Issue
Border czar Tom Homan told Newsmax on Saturday that he continues to be perplexed at the pushback the Trump administration is getting from Democrat politicians across the country saying “national security threats should be a nonpartisan issue.”
Earlier this week President Donald Trump removed top ICE official Caleb Vitello expressing frustration that the number of deportations of illegal immigrants are well below expectations. Meanwhile, the mayors of Newark, Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami have all independently come out against the administration’s efforts and publicly announced their intentions to support the illegal immigrant communities in their cities. Homan said he is “amazed” that mayors do not want to protect their citizens.
Father Sean Connolly to Newsmax: Concern Widespread About Pope Francis
Pope Francis is the spiritual father to the largest body of Christians worldwide and a source of unity, so "concern is so widespread throughout the world" as he remains in the hospital in critical condition, Father Sean Connolly, the pastor of the Parish of Saint Margaret of Cortona in the Bronx, New York, told Newsmax Sunday.
"He is a successor to Saint Peter and that unique mission that Christ imparted to that apostle to confirm all of the brothers in the faith," said Connolly on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend." "And so we have a great concern for his health and well-being. Our prayers are with him."
Connolly said he was "very privileged" to have once met the pope during a pilgrimage to Rome with members of his parish.
The Polis as the Engine of the Intellect – Part I
The Polis was one of the two great outcomes of the Greek Archaic Age, along with colonization. While the former was an expression of the Greek desire to expand trade and reach the outside world, building of the city-state was far more important to the Greeks and western man as a whole because:
The Polis was the first governmental structure that supported the free expression of the human mind to pursue an intellectual foundation for his existence.
We will take the next couple of posts to describe how this happened.
We start in the Archaic Period – the Revolutionary Portion where the Greek people were in a struggle to create a cultural model which would remove the individual from the tribe and overcome the clan-based existence which had constrained man’s ability to reason since he came into being.
Pope Francis is in critical condition from complications from a complex lung infection, but Connolly said the church will continue to move forward.
"What the Catholic Church is really is a communion of churches throughout the world and the Church of Rome is the mother and head of them all," he said. "Throughout the world we still have our local bishops who teach, who govern, and who sanctify us. Like here in the Archdiocese of New York, in America, we have our Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan. So the work of the church, of course, goes on."
Bessent: Revenue From Minerals Deal Will Fuel Ukraine's Postwar Growth
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that revenue derived from a minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine would fuel the "long-term reconstruction and development" of the war-torn country.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that revenue derived from a minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine would fuel the “long-term reconstruction and development” of the war-torn country.
In a guest column for the Financial Times that was published Saturday, Bessent reminded that it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who first surfaced the concept of a minerals deal to President Donald Trump last September.
Bessent’s column came on the day it was expected Zelenskyy and the U.S. would finalize terms of the minerals deal. However, it was reported Saturday that Ukraine was considering a revised U.S. proposal for its extensive natural resources that calls for the country to give up half of its revenues from rare earth minerals, gas, and oil, as well as from the earnings from its ports and other infrastructure.
FT reported that the deal called for a reconstruction investment fund, into which Ukraine would contribute 50% through mineral resources until it hit a threshold of $500 billion.
The Trump administration's terms, if approved, will take funds from Ukraine that are now being invested in its defense and military industry and money that could help rebuild the nation once the three-year war comes to an end.
Trump Envoy Expects US-Ukraine Mineral Deal to be Signed This Week
President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday said he expects that an agreement would be signed this week on U.S. access to Ukraine's critical mineral deposits.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wavered "in his commitment towards that a week ago," Witkoff said in a CNN interview, referring to the Ukrainian leader's rejection of the original U.S. proposal. "The president (Trump) sent the message to him. He's not wavering any more."
Zelenskiy realized "that we have done so much (for Ukraine) and that agreement belongs being signed and I think you'll see it signed this week," continued Witkoff.
Trump Moves to Sell Pelosi Federal Building in SF
President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to sell off multiple federal properties in Northern California, including the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building and a historic structure at 50 United Nations Plaza.
President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to sell off multiple federal properties in Northern California, including the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building and a historic structure at 50 United Nations Plaza, ABC 7 reported.
The administration argues that offloading the buildings will reduce maintenance costs, and it is opting to lease office space for federal workers instead.
However, critics see the move as political retaliation.
In addition to property sales, Trump's latest executive order targets the Presidio Trust, the agency managing the 1,500-acre Presidio Park in San Francisco. The order seeks to "dramatically" downsize the federal government by eliminating what it deems "unnecessary" agencies, including the Trust.
The Presidio Trust, established in 1996, has been financially self-sustaining since 2013, relying on lease revenues instead of federal funding. In response to the executive order, the agency stated it would continue operations as usual and submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget within two weeks, as required.
In response to the order, the Presidio Trust proclaimed its commitment to its mission: "We are confident that our activities are all statutorily based."
"I would say to this administration, whether it's President Trump or Musk or all those DOGE people, that when something is a raging success, 'Keep your hands off it,'" Boxer said.
The executive order has sparked fears that unspent federal funds allocated for the Presidio under the Inflation Reduction Act could be rescinded.
While some, such as former Presidio trustee Marie Hurabiell, believe the executive order is merely a fact-finding effort, local residents expressed concern about potential changes.
"I think that's shameful. We need more park space in this city," said San Francisco resident Jeff Daniel. "This has wonderful resources for folks who live here, folks who work here, for visitors, for tourists. It brings a lot of tourists and tourist dollars to the city as well."
In his annual letter to shareholders Saturday, Warren Buffett celebrated the successes of Berkshire Hathaway's companies last year and in the 60 years since he took over a struggling New England textile company and began converting it into a massive conglomerate while offering some advice to President Donald Trump.
Buffett opened the letter by acknowledging that he has occasionally made mistakes over the years without offering many specific examples, but he assured shareholders that the man he has chosen to one day succeed him as CEO, Greg Abel, isn't one of them. He wrote that Abel will be ready to act whenever he spots significant investment opportunities.
Buffett has hardly mentioned politics and current events in his recent letter — preferring to stay away from anything controversial that might hurt Berkshire's companies — but Saturday he urged the government to be responsible with the money he sends it.
"Thank you, Uncle Sam. Someday your nieces and nephews at Berkshire hope to send you even larger payments than we did in 2024. Spend it wisely. Take care of the many who, for no fault of their own, get the short straws in life. They deserve better. And never forget that we need you to maintain a stable currency and that result requires both wisdom and vigilance on your part," Buffett wrote, reinforcing some of the Democratic ideals he has long supported.
CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said, “I thought honestly in a very subtle way that was a powerful message.”
Buffett began buying Berkshire stock for $7.60 a share in 1962. The stock grew to be the world’s most expensive shares because of Buffett’s remarkable success in building Berkshire and his aversion for splitting the stock. Berkshire’s Class A shares closed at $718,750 apiece on Friday, but the company does have a more affordable Class B stock that sells for $478.74.
Buffett promises shareholders a chance to buy a special 60th anniversary book filled with untold stories and lessons from the company's history at the annual meeting.
The flying electric vehicles envisioned by Orlando International Airport will fit up to six passengers and take off and land vertically.
By 2028, the city of Orlando, Florida, could resemble scenes from “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element” — with traffic from flying cars buzzing overhead.
Orlando International Airport this week revealed it has been seeking partners who can help it develop launch and landing pads for “Jetsons”-esque flying cars called a “vertiport,” reported ArcaMax.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority will put out bids for the project next month, according to the outlet.
“You can’t just have a vertiport at the airport, you have to have places for the vehicles to go from the airport to downtown Orlando or Tampa,” Dyer told ArcaMax.
“I think before we see ‘The Jetsons,’ this is going to be developed slowly.”
The small aircraft will fit up to six passengers and run off electric power. They would also take off and land vertically, the outlet reported.
Dyer said Orlando will work on the project with the Federal Aviation Administration.
So the aristocracy grew – but not unchecked – because it had two significant constraints: its character and pressure from the outside. The aristocratic class had not existed long enough to forget its roots and it continued to retain a kinship to the rest of the society. Pressure from the outside was exerted by the masses, who, lacked power, but had unity and the capability to meet the needs of the aristocracy in the economic and military spheres.
The word aristocratic is often used in a negative connotation; implying arrogance, abuse of wealth, etc., but I use the word in a more fundamental sense here. I believe an aristocratic class develops as a logical step in the process of building human society. You always here me talking about people and their segmentation in society – a natural process we cannot alter. In the same way, the aristocratic class is the first to develop out of tribal society because it is made up of individuals who are able to use intelligence and guile to accumulate wealth and power – both used to exert control over the lower classes.
Greek Feudalism Links to Europe 500-1500 A.D.
I continue to be fascinated by the similarity between the Greek Dark Ages and the more recent European Dark Ages to the point of thinking and writing more about them. I want to test the hypothesis that both periods featured similar human behavior.
How this for an idea? What If the human experience during the Greek Dark Ages shows us the model of evolving human behavior in societies – a model that is repeated under similar circumstances? Then the Europeans, with knowledge of the Greek experience, would have known what lay ahead of them. They could have, in fact, predicted their future.
The gods were re-invented to show their human side (e.g. Heracles) which included their being re-casted as seekers of justice. This validated the sense of justice and morality emerging in the new Greek society, and made the gods the standard for right and wrong.
Lastly, cults appeared as an emotional safety valve. Orphism, mystics, seers, and mysteries helped to put the unknown answers to life in a box. Three major cults emerged – those of Dionysus, Apollo, and Heracles, with the former dominant. Cult worship evolved as a way to purge away fears and reassure the individual he could survive.
We see these significant adaptations in Greek religion and wonder about them. Surely religion was serving as a emotional guide, allowing man to think in new ways. But man has always adapted his religion to his situation. Just look at the MTV churches we have today.
Since mankind appeared on the earth, he has separated himself from the other animals through the use of his highly developed brain. At first he had to compete with other hominids for supremacy, but by the end of the Paleolithic Era the competition was eliminated and Homo Sapiens stood as the sole surviving Human species.
During the Neolithic Period, man became a farmer and gave up the life of a nomad. He developed tools and lived in tribes of 150-2000. There was no real social or economic stratification in those primitive clans, although the accumulation of herds led to differences in wealth. At the dawn of the Bronze Age, man began to live in larger groups. Villages were formed and social stratification began. With stratification came repression.
The wealthy used their power to control the poor. The poor had no rights, so those at the bottom of the economic scale became dependent on the wealthy. The average man was repressed socio-economically but remained responsible for his own life and the lives of his family.
The renaissance caused a reawakening of the human spirit and a sense of the value of the individual in society. This new found power of the people led to the American and French Revolutions ushering in a new political age with legitimate rights held by the people and a real opportunity to control their government. I characterize this period in human society as the end of repression and the dawn of freedom. During this time people continued to maintain responsibility for their own lives.
What evidence do we have of this new age in action?
Murderers who were abused as children are now sympathetic figures.
The responsibility for human stupidity and negligence has been transferred to corporations. If I drive an ATV down a hill and break my neck, it’s the vehicle’s fault. If I stick my hand in the spinning blade of a lawnmower and get hurt it’s the manufacturer’s fault. If I eat packing materials and get sick it’s the fault of the shipper.
In the United States, the legal profession has become a major contributor to the death of responsibility. There is a daily drumbeat of commercials featuring attorneys looking for new clients to add to their victims list. There are so many lawyers they have to invent new ways to make money – sue McDonalds because its customers get fat, perhaps?
Since we keep electing lawyers to Congress, we keep extending the umbrella they provide over the trial lawyers association, protecting its sources of income. So more lawyers means more law suits and more transfer of responsibility.
Does the US Hold Its Famous Gold Reserves? Polymarket Bets 21% That Fort Knox Gold Is a Mirage
Speculation over Fort Knox’s gold reserves grows as decades without full audits fuel doubts about the vault’s contents. On Polymarket, bettors now price a 21% likelihood the gold doesn’t exist, mirroring lingering public distrust despite official claims of security.
Is America’s Iconic Gold Secure? 21% of Polymarket Bettors Say No
Decades of conjecture have swirled around Fort Knox’s bullion, with hypotheses alleging its gold has been covertly relocated, liquidated, or supplanted by counterfeit ingots. Such narratives have gained traction from the depository’s enduring mystique—shrouded in classified protocols and shielded from external verification—while modern influencers, including Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, has reinvigorated fascination by advocating for transparency.
Now that I’ve painted an ugly picture, you may wonder when third age ends and the fourth age begins.
The end of responsibility is directly related to the distance man has removed himself from REAL living. Remember the guy at the beginning who lives alone in the woods? That’s REAL living. What we have now is something else.
Although we can observe the imbalance of human responsibility, does anyone care? Is this even a bad thing, or just some higher form of human existence? During the Paleolithic Period, people who had bad eyes died. That was natural selection. Now people get glasses and live a normal life. Is the end of responsibility a similar progression?
Review of the book Cleopatra and Anthony by Diana Preston
I was asked by the publisher to review Diana Preston’s book Cleopatra and Anthony and express my opinion on this non-fiction story of Rome and Egypt. Most everyone knows the tale of Octavian’s rival and his love affair with the Queen of Egypt, which followed her earlier affair with Julius Caesar, but there is much detail beneath the legend and the story told by Shakespeare.
What I don’t like about the book is the style. The writing has this staccato-like rhythm that rolls out fact after fact like a machine gun. We’re about to have the Battle of Actium so let’s talk about Roman ships and how their made. The calendar is mentioned and we launch into the Julian modifications. Events become the launching pad to digress into cultural detail that sits below the surface action. I was also put off by the number of references to the primary sources used by the author – too many “according to Appian” and “Plutarch states that”. It’s as if the author is concerned we won’t trust her facts so she feels the need to include copious references in the middle of the narrative.
Protocorinthian Pottery in the Revolutionary Age
One of the great periods in the history of Greek pottery, the Protocorinthian, is defined by the years 720-640 B.C. The Protocorinthian Period is commonly associated with the term “orientalizing” referring to the influence the cultures of Asia Minor exerted on the Greek styles during Archaic Period. The influx of artistic ideas from the Near East had a profound effect on the course of Greek art, but the Greeks did not simply copy outside ideas. What is special about the Protocorinthian Period is that Greek artists took Near Eastern art themes and adapted and modified them for their own purposes. The degree of oriental influence has been debated among scholars to the point of general agreement that the orient was influential but did not determine the course of Greek art. The Greeks may have originally used eastern motifs as a starting point, but what they ended up with was an art form wholly Greek.
Prior to the beginning of this new period, Corinthian potters were producing the finest of the geometric style, while Attic version was seen as stiff, rigid, and over elaborate in comparison. The Corinthian potters became restless with their technique and began a period of experimentation where they expressed themselves in new and daring ways. This restlessness was found in all aspects of Greek culture at the time, for the Greeks were in the process of emerging from the 'Dark Age' and renewing themselves culturally. The first tentative steps were geometric variations (zigzag or wavy lines), but then the lines changed in character and the vessels in shape. Before long animal and human figures were featured on the pottery. The commercial success of these new styles throughout the Greek world encouraged the Corinthian potters to continue their stylistic development.
Compare the first piece of pottery with the last three, taking into account the Assyrian friezes. Number one is almost completely geometric, while the others express a new creativity which takes the frieze concept and places it on the pottery. This innovation took place over a 30-40 year span.
It is interesting that as this orientalizing style was achieving enormous success throughout the Greek world, certain sub-geometric styles continued in Corinth. It’s as if the Corinthians were willing to be daring in the commercial markets but conservative in their own style. Both styles continued down to the year 600 B.C. when the sub-geometric finally disappeared.
Maslow’s categorizes human needs starting from the most basic animal functions at the bottom and moving upward through other needs toward self-actualization.
I mentioned in the previous post that man living alone he doesn’t have time to contemplate metaphysics, he has to spend his time surviving. He’s stuck at Maslow’s lowest level. If he joins a community, however, the group will help him move up the scale of needs toward self-actualization. In human society, his safety needs can be satisfied with the help of others and he can also develop friendships and intimacy.
Feudalism Do Over
Ask anyone what they know about Feudalism and they immediately bring up the Dark Ages/Middle Ages in Europe – those glorious days of kings, vassals, and serfs when men were men. The term Feudalism is problematic, however, because it tries to define a general political condition in Europe when, in fact, the European experience was not uniform. Italy, for example, had no “Feudal” experience.
The term Feudal was first used in 1610 by French lawyers to describe traditional obligations between members of a warrior aristocracy and then co-opted later by Montesquieu and others to represent the medieval period in Europe. Since Feudal was not used during the period it describes, there has never been a clear definition of the term and more than one historian refuses to use it.
The stage I’m calling Feudalism is a required step before tribesmen can become citizens. In a tribal society there was a leader who exerted control over the people. Over time, this leader accumulated wealth and then named himself king. The kingship gave him power over an enormous amount of land and a distributed mass of humanity. At some point the king needed to use his wealth to bargain for power. He traded land for loyalty and a feudal society was born. Then, over time, as wealth became more broadly distributed, those with money began to demand rights. At this point we enter stage three with the advent of a legal system and complex government.
In 476 A.D, when the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe regressed into a tribal society which served as the foundation for re-building the modern age. What if those thousand years had not have been lost? Where would western society be today?
The Greeks: Touring During the Archaic Period
The Greek Archaic Period can be characterized by two currents: the development of the Polis and the emigration of Greeks from their homeland. It is the latter we will discuss in this post.
Colonies in the sense used here are not the same kind of colonies as those of the early United States. The Greek word for these new settlements, “apoikia”, does not imply a dependence between the settlement and its “mother” city. And there were many mother cities: Sparta founded Tarentum; Euboea, Al Mina and Cumae; Corinth, Syracuse; the Phocaeans, Tartessos. The mother cities gave support to the new settlements more because of common culture than political association.
The name Stoic comes from the Greek “Stoa” which is a covered colonnade. Zeno and his friends would hold their meetings at the Stoa adjacent to the market in the center of Athens, and the name of the group became associated with it. Zeno, himself, was born in Citium, a large Hellenized city in Cyprus. Drawn to the teachings of Socrates, he traveled to Athens at age twenty two and began to study with the prominent Greek philosophers of the day. He came under the influence of the cynic Crates, Polemo head of Plato’s Academy, and Stilpo.
These men served as the wellspring for Zeno’s ethics.
Iron, more plentiful than copper, would not replace bronze until ancient blacksmiths learned how to make fires hotter than the 1400 degrees required to melt iron. Heating iron ore to its melting point in the presence of carbon (coal) draws oxygen out of the ore leaving wrought iron which can be hammered into a desired shape.
The supply demand economics of bronze and iron provide an interesting part of the story, as we observe capitalism in the ancient Aegean. There were enormous quantities of copper in Cyprus, but the amount of tin available to the smelters varied from time to time. Shortages of tin and its impact on the manufacture of bronze prompted gangs of bronze pirates to steal the metal for re-sale. The variation in prices and supply help drive efforts to make the production of iron more practical.
Below are the major periods in the history of Greek pottery.
1050 -------Protogeometic style develops out of debased Mycenaean forms
800s -------Geometric
700s -------Animal and human forms appear
late 700s ---Protocorinthian and “Black figure”
530s -------Athenian “Red figure”
Karl Marx Redux
While I was reviewing Marx’ theories for my last post, I noticed something interesting which is worth discussing as a separate topic. We don’t think of Marx as linked to the ancients, but his lack of knowledge of antiquity certainly had an impact on the validity of his theory of class warfare.
When people become part of a social structure, another kind of distribution occurs – the distribution of labor. If the group is small, the distribution is narrow. In ancient times, for example, tribes or clans had a flat hierarchy – a small group of physically strong leaders and everyone else gathering food or farming. When the tribe grew into a community, a village, a town, and finally a city, the distribution was forced to expand to meet the goods and services requirements of a complex society. The people in those cities assumed a socio-economic position according to three drivers of human behavior: physical, mental, and psychological. The ability of any individual to rise in status depended on the strength of these characteristics in combination.
In exchange for freedom, men were willing to trade responsibility. What I mean is they realized that freedom transfers responsibility to the individual: responsibility to live by his own means, be a good citizen, and accept what comes along in life. The will to freedom carries a price. Scary but desirable. Of course, some were never able to take that step because they lacked the capacity. The world has always had beggars.
Let’s look at a couple of modern examples where human behavior has been ignored by political theorists and politicians. The price paid for ignorance is failure.
Fast forward to the Russian Revolution, where the theories of Marx were supposedly put into practice and, in fact, weren’t. The soviet leadership used communist theory as veneer over the creation of an autocratic regime incorporating many of the same elements that caused the revolt against the Czars in the first place. Soviet leaders must have had to stifle their laughter while preparing speeches about the wonderful communist ideology, because they weren’t really interested in creating a culture with a single socio-economic class. Surprisingly, many simple-minded liberal intellectuals in this country did not see the difference between theory and reality either. Were they merely channeling anger against the capitalist model or was it just the fact that communism was fashionable? Where are those communist adherents now when their favorite model has failed everywhere? They never understood that the hierarchy of man in society cannot be removed.
Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 19th consecutive month. The national median sales price rose 4.8% in January from a year earlier to $396,900.
There were 1.18 million unsold homes at the end of last month, up 3.5% from December and up 16.8% from January last year, NAR said.
That translates to a 3.5-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 3.2-month pace in December and a 3-month pace at the end of January last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.
The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.
Musk leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which in the first weeks of Trump's administration has laid off more than 20,000 workers and offered buyouts to another 75,000, across wide swaths of the government from the Defense Department - long a top Republican priority - to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where all staff have been ordered to halt work.
The frantic pace has led the federal government in some cases to rush to rehire workers who perform critical functions like securing the nation's nuclear arsenal and trying to fight the worsening bird flu outbreak, which has caused egg prices to spike higher.
While there is bipartisan agreement that the U.S. government, which carries $36 trillion in debt, would benefit from reform, Musk's tumultuous approach has drawn widespread criticism, including from voters in some Republican areas.
"To be clear – this is irregular, unexpected, and warrants further validation," a senior executive at the National Centers for Environmental Information, an agency that manages environmental data and is part of the Commerce Department, wrote.
Some officials welcomed the move. Ed Martin, Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., who is serving in an interim capacity, praised Musk and DOGE in an email response.
But other offices within the Justice Department, including the executive office that supports all U.S. attorneys and the department's civil division, told employees not to reply pending additional information.
Employees at the Drug Enforcement Administration, part of the Justice Department, were told to respond, according to an email seen by Reuters.
The largest federal workers' union, the American Federation of Government Employees, wrote on X on Sunday that it did not believe Musk had the authority to fire employees who did not respond and would formally request that OPM rescind the message.
Meanwhile, the union advised members to ask their supervisors directly whether to reply and to follow their guidance.
The email left some employees even more frustrated and worried after weeks of uncertainty about their futures.
"I really wonder when someone is going to say enough," one IRS employee told Reuters.
Some federal judiciary employees, including judges, also received the Saturday email from OPM, even though the court system is not part of the executive branch, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts confirmed.
The judiciary advised employees that no action should be taken in response to the message, according to an email reviewed by Reuters.
In some cases, employees were left unsure how to respond even if they chose to do so.
Some lawyers, for instance, expressed concern that their work is confidential.
Workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also received the email, according to people with knowledge of the matter, even though they were all ordered to cease working since early this month, leaving them with little to do.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, said the email was "a complete overstep" that would be defeated in court.
"From a management perspective, you can see what a clown car this is right now," Christie said during ABC News' "The Week" on Sunday. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington and Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey, Additional reporting by Marisa Taylor, Kanishka Singh, Brad Heath, Valerie Volcovici, Ted Hesson, Karen Freifeld, Timothy Gardner, Pete Schroeder, Nathan Layne and Nate Raymond; Editing by Scott Malone and Andrea Ricci)
Nvidia's profit report next week could steer the U.S. stock market's course, as investors seek confirmation that the AI-driven investment trend, which has powered equities for two years, is intact after last month's panic-selling triggered by the Chinese startup DeepSeek.
Seen as a bellwether of the burgeoning AI industry, Nvidia is the world's second most valuable company, with a 6.3% weight on the S&P 500, according to LSEG. Its shares have skyrocketed over 550% over the last two years.
A recent stumble, however, came after the Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled a lower-cost AI model that was seen as a threat to the dominance of U.S. rivals, driving Nvidia down roughly 17% on January 27, equivalent to $593 billion - a record one-day market value loss.
"Nvidia is the last piece of the market puzzle right now that might help reset investor sentiment," said Matt Orton, chief market strategist at Raymond James Investment Management, adding the equities market has performed well despite uncertainties around U.S. tariff and fiscal policy, a drop in retail sales and a hotter-than-expected consumer price index.
"It can be the catalyst to help the market break out once again," he said.
Markets have changed since the selloff triggered by DeepSeek, as Nvidia has lost a lot of its power to move all stocks since the beginning of this year. The correlation between the chipmaker and the S&P 500 fell to 30% in 2025 from 71% last year, according to Schwab's calculations.
"Listen, it's like the oldest trick in the book. Back in the day when I wanted to hide my spending from my father, who worked for me — he was the gatekeeper,” Belfort told Fox News. “So what do you do? You just leave everything blank where the money goes. Who knows? You can't trace it.”
Musk’s DOGE found that trillions were sent without a Treasury Access Symbol, a standard financial process that identifies what payments were for and where they were sent. Belfort said leaving that blank doesn’t happen “by accident.” Belfort praised Musk and DOGE for sussing out the fraud.
"So thank God for Elon Musk, because without him, we'd be going broke. We would go broke," Belfort said.
Musk earlier this month asserted that roughly $1 billion per week in entitlement payments are "unequivocal and obvious fraud." "Everything at Treasury was geared towards complain minimization. People ... receive money don't complain, but people who don't receive money (especially fraudsters) complain very loudly, so the fraud was allowed to continue,” Musk said.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told Newsmax on Wednesday that “people need to go to jail” for the fraud, noting that many of the programs that received federal dollars had “made up names.”
According to The Times, Amazon shelled out another $1 billion to producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli to wrest creative rights.
The financial terms of the deal have not been confirmed by Amazon.
Bond is going to become "more corporate. The volume (of films) will change", estimated Tom Harrington, who works at Enders Analysis, which provides entertainment industry insights.
Wilson and Broccoli, guarding the character who has shaped British cinema since the 1960s, have resisted spin-offs and licensing that they felt might have tarnished the franchise.
And enough fans as well. "There is a huge fandom," said Preece, adding that fans were "desperately" waiting for the next film.
The last instalment was "No Time to Die" -- the 25th James Bond movie and Craig's swan song, which made $775 million in the box office.
James Bond gone 'woke'? -
There is a risk of over-exploiting and in turn weakening the franchise.
It will be necessary to "remain faithful to the brand's heritage" and the character created seven decades ago by English author Ian Fleming, stressed Mediavilla.
The scriptwriters have toned down Bond's caddish side and regular misogynist jabs at women, and in the latest films have tried to present an image of a man who is more sensitive.
According to Preece, Amazon may even explore creating a "Bond girl series".
But the big losers could be movie theaters. All the films in the saga are huge blockbusters, but Amazon could now dispense with a cinema release and offer the film directly on its Prime streaming platform.
Estimates of the total economic loss from the firestorm have been estimated to surpass $250 billion — with real estate losses from the Palisades and Eaton fires predicted to potentially top $30 billion, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis. More than 16,200 structures were destroyed as flames ripped through Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena and Altadena.
Newsom vowed that the funding would be used to rebuild homes, infrastructure, businesses, schools, churches and health care facilities, while supporting the needs of people affected by the devastation.
“Make no mistake, Los Angeles will use this money wisely,” Newsom wrote.
But the Polis did not appear out of thin air or develop over a short period of time. It was forged by the heat and hammer of life in ancient Greece – the geography and its isolating influence, the collapse of Mycenae and its aristocratic model, and finally the cultural isolation that existed during the Dark Ages. The heat that finally formed the Polis was population growth. When Greek villages became large enough to be called cities, they were able to support a more complex political system. A new wealthy class wanted the goods to fit their aristocratic lifestyle. Those goods required artisans to produce them. A warrior class developed to protect the Polis from attack – military power from the people and not paid mercenaries of a king. Farming capability expanded as more food was required by a larger population. At the center of it, we see human beings who divided themselves, like they always do, by capability and effort.
As populations grew, the social classes came into conflict. The Greek word Stasis is used to describe this. Out of this conflict a simple political structure was created – not restrictive enough on the wealthy to control them but certainly a structure that attempted to bring basic rights to the lower classes. This political incubator created a system of magistrates, councils, and a people’s assembly. All original ideas. On the judicial side, wise law givers were granted the power to make legal decisions for the community.
Stellantis Recalls 27,354 Maserati Vehicles in US
The recall affects certain 2023-2024 Grecale, 2023-2025 MC20 Cielo, 2024 GranTurismo, GranCabrio, 2021-2024 Levante, Ghibli, Quattroporte, and 2022-2025 MC20 vehicles.
Stellantis is recalling 27,354 Maserati vehicles in the U.S on concerns over a rearview camera image that does not display, increasing the risk of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Saturday.
The radio software may prevent the rear view image from displaying, NHTSA said, adding it would be updated over the air.
The Phalanx and Its Influence Over Politics and Social Class in Ancient Greece
In recent posts we have been discussing the historical periods of ancient Greece. We’ve been focused on the Golden Age because that is the period most historians are interested in – the great wars, the acme of the polis as a political system, and the rise of Athens as the center of historical culture. In the last post I talked about the Dark Ages: the period in Greek history which came immediately after the Mycenaean culture disappeared. There is also another period that stands between the Dark Ages and the classical times -- the Archaic Period.
"We expect approximately 5,400 probationary workers will be released beginning next week as part of this initial effort, after which we will implement a hiring freeze while we conduct a further analysis of our personnel needs, complying as always with all applicable laws.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out his priorities for his tenure, which will focus on slashing fiscal fraud, waste, and abuse at the Department of Defense and looking for ways to reallocate the military's budget.
CNN reported on Wednesday that the planned layoffs could be in violation of Title 10 Section 129a of the U.S. code, a law that mandates the Defense secretary conduct "an appropriate analysis" of how major dismissals could impact the U.S. military's lethality and readiness before implementing.
"The media wants to call these exclusively 'cuts.' It's not a cut," Hegseth said. "It's refocusing and reinvesting funds into building a force to protect you, the American people."
WH Asks Top China Export Policy Official to Resign
The Trump administration has asked a senior Commerce Department official overseeing export restrictions on China to resign, three people familiar with the matter said.
Matthew Borman is leaving his role as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration after decades of government service.
The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Borman could not immediately be reached for comment.
The move, not previously reported, comes amid a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to shrink the federal government and oust many career officials, which it has often accused without evidence of seeking to subvert its agenda.
The authors of the poems had a working knowledge of Mycenae, but did not mention settlements in Ionia. They reference objects that became important during the Dark Ages, such as “bronze tripods” and glittering cauldrons”, and they also reference cremation. The Mycenaeans buried their dead, but later, in about 1050 B.C, the Greeks began cremation as a practice. After 200 years, the burial ritual began again. These facts place the origin of the poems in the early Dark Ages.
They also describe a society with few political institutions. i.e. pre-archaic. The leaders had power because they were wealthy and no other political groups are mentioned. The common people are silent as in the assembly meeting when Telemachus asked for their support against the suitors. The references to the Greeks themselves are also interesting. They are called Achaeans, Argives, and Danaans rather than Hellenes although the latter was in common use in the eighth century.
Zelensky has been a regular fixture on the world stage since Russia’s full-scale invasion of his country began in 2022, including with numerous trips to Washington, DC.
The US has provided nearly $66 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the start of the war, funds President Trump has made overtures about clawing back through deals to mine the country’s rich natural resources.
Zelensky enjoyed close ties with former President Biden, but his relationship with Trump has been far more contentious, with the two leaders repeatedly trading public barbs.
Many of the characteristics of the Dark Ages are known. There was a rapid shift from bronze to iron technology, pictorial representation ended, luxury disappeared, and religion was practically non-existent. After one hundred and fifty years, however, new innovations began to appear around 1050. A new style of pottery, labeled protogeometric, was produced and by 1000 B.C. Greek expansion across the Aegean began. This large scale migration implies an outward-looking vision similar to that of the European explorers during the renaissance.
The Greeks crossed the Aegean and settled in Asia Minor by bands matching the dialects of the Greek language.
Stone pieces were finished at the building site with a claw chisel and hammer. They were then rubbed and polished to a smooth finish. Blocks were lifted into place using a block and tackle to get them close to a final position and then moved to final position with crowbars.
Surprisingly, Greek temple architecture was not innovative – meaning it was not able to adapt designs to new materials and overcome structural limitations. The basic temple design was vertical support of horizontal beams. Architrave blocks were supported at their ends by columns and the roofs were supported by wooden beams resting on the entablature. Column spacing could only be as large as the largest block on the architrave (4.5 meters in the Parthenon). Equally restricting are the wood beams which were limited by available timbers to about 12 meters.
There is substantial myth to be found in Lerna. The town was home to the Lernaean Hydra, a water snake killed by Hercules. Lerna was also one of the entrances into the underworld and the ancient Lernaean Mysteries of Demeter were celebrated there.
The House of Tiles was constructed around 2200 B.C. as a mansion for a chieftain or possibly an administration building. The building was two stories high, made of yellow brick on a stone foundation, and the roof was covered with terra-cotta tiles. It was destroyed by fire and the site was never re-built possibly out of reverence for the significance of the structure.
Following the Battle of Salamis wreckage from sunken Persian ships was blown westward and washed up onto the Attican shoreline at a place Herodotus calls “Colias”.
The locals were amazed when they realized the debris fulfilled what had previously been a mysterious prophesy. A soothsayer named Lysistratus had years earlier predicted that someday “The Colian women will cook their food with oars”
The Battle of Salamis
The Battle of Salamis occurred in 480 B.C. when the Persian King Xerxes attempted to push south into the Peloponnese Peninsula. As I discussed in a previous article, the Spartans were hesitant to engage the Persians in a naval battle because they thought building a wall across the Isthmus of Corinth was the better way to protect themselves. The Athenian commander, Thermistocles, tricked the Spartans by sending a messenger, posing as a traitor, to tell the Persian a Greek attack was imminent. The Persians took the bait and moved up their timetable leaving the Spartans no time for withdrawal.
As TikTok's future in the U.S. remains in limbo, San Francisco startup Substack is going after video creators in a move to expand its platform.
After posting almost 200 videos, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers and racking up millions of views, Carla Lalli Music is quitting YouTube. Substack is her new focus.
Music is a cookbook author and food content creator, and she is shifting her focus to Substack, a subscription platform that lets creators charge users subscriptions for access to their content. Music told CNBC she came to that decision after earning more in one year of using Substack, nearly $200,000 in revenue, than she did by posting videos on YouTube since 2021.
23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki and New Mountain Capital have submitted a proposal to take the company private.
23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki and New Mountain Capital have submitted a proposal to take the embattled genetic testing company private, according to a Friday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Wojcicki and New Mountain have offered to acquire all of 23andMe's outstanding shares in cash for $2.53 per share, or an equity value of approximately $74.7 million. The company's stock closed at $2.42 on Friday with a market cap of about $65 million.
The offer comes after a turbulent year for 23andMe, with the stock losing more than 80% of its value in 2024. In January, the company announced plans to explore strategic alternatives, which could include a sale of the company or its assets, a restructuring or a business combination.
23andMe has a special committee of independent directors in place to evaluate potential paths forward. The company appointed three new independent directors to its board in October after all seven of its previous directors abruptly resigned the prior month. The special committee has to approve Wojcicki and New Mountain's proposal.
Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has been hit by the largest crypto heist in history.
Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has been hacked to the tune of $1.5 billion in digital assets, in what's estimated to be the largest crypto heist in history.
The attack compromised Bybit's cold wallet, an offline storage system designed for security. The stolen funds, primarily in ether, were quickly transferred across multiple wallets and liquidated through various platforms.
"Please rest assured that all other cold wallets are secure," Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, posted on X. "All withdrawals are NORMAL."
Blockchain analysis firms, including Elliptic and Arkham Intelligence, traced the stolen crypto as it was moved to various accounts and swiftly offloaded. The hack far surpasses previous thefts in the sector, according to Elliptic. That includes the $611 million stolen from Poly Network in 2021 and the $570 million worth of Binance's BNB token stolen in 2022.
The breakthrough could enable China to significantly boost its GaN manufacturing sector.
Chinese researchers have discovered the leading cause of defects in the promising semiconductor material gallium nitride (GaN). This material is critical for developing advanced electronics, specifically those used for military applications.
The team, led by Professor Huang Bing and his team at Peking University, identifies the leading cause of defects in GaN crystal growth. GaN fabrication typically uses substrates like silicon and sapphire to support growth.
They found that the issue stems from dislocation defects, which disrupt the crystal structure, leading to leakage and reduced performance. The team found these defects because GaN has a hexagonal atomic structure, which makes it different from silicon’s cubic structure.
This differs from silicon defects, which are typically caused by gliding (a movement along a plane), which the industry has learned to control. GaN defects, on the other hand, are primarily due to climbing (changes in the number of local atoms), a process that has been poorly understood until now.
When electrons move in a spiral motion, it becomes much easier to study their behavior in real time.
No chemical reaction or energy transfer process can take place without electrons, as they are responsible for forming and breaking chemical bonds.
Therefore, to control and manipulate chemical reactions, develop new materials, or modify the properties of existing substances, it is important to study electron behavior.
However, one of the biggest difficulties in studying electron motion is that their movements happen incredibly fast, making them extremely hard to track. For instance, an electron within a molecule can change positions in attoseconds (i.e., 10-18 seconds).
But studying such fast-moving particles with precision is difficult. There are techniques such as electron diffraction and laser spectroscopy, but these conventional methods either suffer from poor resolution or require complex and costly experimental setups.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) have an interesting solution to this problem. In their new study, they reveal a new technique to observe fast-moving electrons moving inside molecules with incredible precision.
Time-resolved vortex electron diffraction
Electrons don’t always move randomly; they can show synchronized wave-like motion in a process called transient electronic coherence. This short-lived electron behavior is observed when electrons are excited by an energy source such as an electric field or light.
The fuel cell works well in a wide range of temperatures and altitudes, with a 59.8% efficiency.
Japanese automobile giant Honda has unveiled its next-generation fuel cell module at the 23rd International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo. This development could give a significant boost to hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Notably, unlike the current module, which was co-developed with General Motors (GM), this new model has been created in-house by Honda.
The new fuel cell module is expected to offer a remarkable 50% reduction in production costs compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the module’s durability has been doubled to ensure a longer lifespan and lower maintenance costs.
The volumetric power density of the fuel cell module has also increased threefold.
“The module was downsized by increasing the volumetric power density by more than three times, which increased the flexibility of installation layouts,” explained the company.
This, in turn, results in a compact design of the module that measures just 28.7 inches wide, 27.5 inches high, and 22.8 inches deep.
Moreover, it weighs 550 pounds, which significantly enhances installation flexibility. This design allows for versatile integration into various applications, from vehicles to stationary power sources.
The robot effectively replicated the running gait of cheetahs and demonstrated the ability to climb ramps.
Roboticists and computer scientists have created a variety of systems inspired by humans and animals. The latest robot, introduced in a paper published in the Journal of Bionic Engineering, is designed using piezoelectric materials – a class of materials that generate an electric charge when exposed to mechanical stress.
The piezoelectric robot achieves linear motion, turning motion, and turning motion with varying radii using a voltage differential driving method. A prototype was built, weighing 38 grams and measuring 150 × 80 × 31 mm³, researchers explained.
Piezoelectric robot demonstrates linear and turning motion
The new H-shaped bionic piezoelectric robot (H-BPR) consists of four legs connected by three piezoelectric beams. By harnessing the bending vibrations of the piezoelectric beams, the robot mimics the periodic leg movements of a cheetah’s running gait.
The researchers analyzed the dynamics and kinematics of the piezoelectric robot to determine the trajectory of a point at the end of the robot’s leg. They then examined the motion principles of the robot, followed by modal and harmonic response analyses using finite element analysis software.
“The performance test results show that the piezoelectric robot has a maximum velocity of 66.79 mm/s at an excitation voltage of 320 V and a load capacity of 55 g. In addition, the H-BPR with unequal drive legs has better climbing performance, and the obtained conclusions are informative for selecting leg heights for piezoelectric robots,” the researchers wrote in the abstract.
The test was conducted in a series of simulated pipes, and the robot performed as expected.
Chinese astronauts have reportedly tested a new maintenance robot on the Tiangong space station. The test, conducted as part of the current Shenzhou-19 mission, is allegedly designed to maintain critical pipework onboard the station.
In China’s first-of-its-kind in-orbit test, the robot demonstrated that it could operate effectively in extreme space environments. According to reports, the test was conducted in January of this year and went according to plan.
Astronauts put the robot through its paces onboard Tiangong in a series of simulated pipework. “During the test, the robot smoothly and reliably passed through straight pipes, curved pipes, and tapered pipes of various diameters,” the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) is reported as saying.
Given the complex nature of the space station, installed pipework comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Specifically, pipework ranges widely in diameter, with sudden changes in pipework bore being the norm.
Adaptable and autonomous
For this reason, designing a robot that can adapt has proven difficult until now, and there is a high chance of it getting stuck. To this end, the robot’s developers turned to hydraulic tube feet that marine animals such as starfish use to move.
Terahertz waves can revolutionize the internet, healthcare, and airport security. Here’s how a tiny chip can finally allow us to use them
Humans have figured out many ways to utilize radio waves, X-rays, microwaves, infrared light, and many other types of electromagnetic radiation. However, terahertz waves remain an unsolved puzzle.
Scientists have known about terahertz waves for years. Their unique properties suggest that these waves could enable high-bandwidth communication, ultra-fast data transfer, advanced medical imaging, and precise environmental monitoring.
Additionally, their ability to penetrate various materials without harmful radiation makes them valuable for security screening, quality control in industries, and chemical sensing. However, until now, it has been challenging to harness the potential of these waves in electronic devices due to several technological limitations.
Finally, a new study from researchers at MIT reveals a chip-based solution that can overcome these limitations and make terahertz waves more accessible than ever.
What stops us from using terahertz waves?
Terahertz (THz) waves are affected by the dielectric constant, a measure of how well a material can store and slow down an electric field. The lower this constant is the smoother terahertz waves can pass through a material.
Monotype’s latest trends report explores AI, typography, creativity, and more. Senior executive creative director Charles Nix shares insights on how AI will impact typography.
Over the past 25 years, the number of typefaces has grown from about 20,000 to over a million. AI can help us navigate and organize this massive collection efficiently.
At Monotype, AI is being developed to address generative AI’s struggles with rendering typography correctly, reducing "hallucinations" in generated text.
Some companies are using AI to create typefaces, but Monotype believes that managing and improving the existing vast collection is more pressing than generating new ones.
Nix believes that true creative aspects of type design will remain human-driven for the foreseeable future, as AI lacks human intuition and artistic judgment.
Monotype’s Human Types project explores what humans uniquely bring to typography that AI cannot replicate, engaging three designers with different perspectives.
One key idea is that humans introduce creative chaos—our ability to question, challenge norms, and take unpredictable paths makes creativity fundamentally human.
Grok 3 appears to have briefly censored unflattering mentions of Trump and Musk
Elon Musk introduced Grok 3, calling it a "maximally truth-seeking AI." But reports suggest it briefly censored unflattering mentions of Trump and Musk.
Does this project plan on implementing ads? Would be a great idea if a user can build his follower base and get rewarded with the ad revenue and the native token Leo. The project gives a potion to the most viewed user
~~~ embed:wikifolio/comments/1iwgnko/so_wird_das_gemacht_ryanair_chef_fährt_mit_dem/ reddit metadata:fHdpa2lmb2xpb3xodHRwczovL3d3dy5yZWRkaXQuY29tL3Ivd2lraWZvbGlvL2NvbW1lbnRzLzFpd2dua28vc29fd2lyZF9kYXNfZ2VtYWNodF9yeWFuYWlyX2NoZWZfZsOkaHJ0X21pdF9kZW0vfA== ~~~ The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people( @blkchn ) sharing the post on Reddit as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com. Otherwise, rewards go to the author of the blog post.
I don't know but i have this funny feeling about March. I think altcoins are going to pump. It's not financial advice though but I think it's time to buy in while it's cheap
In a dark village, only one candle remained. Each villager wanted it for themselves. A child, instead, used it to light others' candles. Soon, the whole village glowed. The lesson?
Sharing #kindness spreads light, not darkness.
#realtalk if you call yourself a #conservative in 🇩🇪 & a member of the von Weizsäcker-family is calling out for your approach, it might to be too late for you. #politics #lmao
An experienced market analyst formerly with Goldman Sachs predicts significant gains for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XYZ, and Sui. Describing the current landscape as the greatest macroeconomic opportunity
Every one in this world comes with some quality or ability in them, some are good in sports, some are good in sports, some are good learner, some are good dancer or singer etc. No body is perfect or is good in all aspect. When we were kids many time we received comments like - that kid is good in study and why you are not try to be study like him. Every one has its own quality and when we start compare someone's quality with someone other like we witnesses many time in our childhood, that create the pressure on us.
2/3🧵
.
When we talked about the peer pressure then the first impression we all have is the negative but its not that outcome of the peer pressure is always negative, in many cases it create the positive effect also.
Feliz domingo comunidad, que sea un gran día para todos y que cada una de sus actividades salgan bien, logren descansar y pasar un buen tiempo en familia. Éxitos.
Over the past week, XRP has lost more than 8% of its value, effectively erasing all recent gains. Experts believe that if the current support levels hold, there could be potential for recovery and the initiation of a new upward trend.
Leo Entertainment Threadcast
A big thanks to @mightpossibly, for granting us the free access to use the #aisummaries tool to feed in YouTube entertainment video on this cast.
23/02/2025#threadcast #leoentertainment #mcb
!summarize #eddieandthecruisers #movie #hollywood #music
Which is your favorite kind of stupid 🤣🤣🤣🤣?
I go with the Donkey all the way from Shrek ... That's my favorite movie..
Just part of my truthful joke.. lol
check if is a fake lie..
wait hold on 🤯🤯🤯🤯👀👀👀👀👀👀 is that a transaction with my name on it 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 let me go check MM
Thats how we joke.. lol
the jokes are expensive 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I don't like cheap jokes..
seriously MM, I can't thank you enough... You've been the very very best bro
Tell me you are not joking 😃😃.. lol
this one ain't part of my comedy bro 🤣🔥 thanks honestly
❤️
You know I like it when is comedy in nature, so tell me you are just joking for me to accept 👀👀
it's basically my first Leo gotten now I know my wallet is active 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💪💪💪
All active..
Another special day on InLeo Entertainment Cast. Greetings to all on the cast and MM 🔥
There's something very hard to do... Who can do it
https://inleo.io/threads/view/thehivetuber/re-xbndwtvjhp?referral=thehivetuber
I think @luchyl is good in doing hard things... Lol
let me follow the
Please follow with all pleasure..
ok MM
it's an empty account 👀
HAhah let me correct it..
nice I'll follow
She is a troublesome good fellow.
@luchyl
i like that vibe 😎
That's why I like her when she trouble me.. because it's all for engagement 😹😉😹..
Waiting to be entertained 🎉
May i welcome my fellow doctor to attend to you.. lol
@thehivetuber, has some medicine for you..
Who is that?
You guys have hivetuber now? Goodness I have a lot of catching up to do.
Oh yes, he is my very good friend and a great comedian..
Cool 😎
I am excited to meet him.
Thats great 👍👍..
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 a lot of medicine MM, but 3 speak messing with me bro
..
Same to me... I have made some shorts 🩳 ready for post..
It's no problem, anytime is ready, we will post all shorts..
i actually wanted to make my very first blog Plus video. It was a longer video please blog but I tried since morning it didn't work. I had to use 3speak main website but it's in encoding
!summarize #joyreid #msnbc #cancellation #media #cablenews
!summarize #joyreid #msnbc #cablenews #media
!summarize @thehivetuber, this is one of my best movie.
oh yes me too, I've watched it so so many times with my little sister
My response
Nothing too big, not too small..
😂🤣🤣
@thehivetuber
nice one MM very nice one
So expect bigger things sooner ... Lol
wow man I trust you 🔥
Never trust joker 🃏🃏🃏..
yes It was a play on words that's why I used Joker... Get it? 🤣
Does Revival or Retirement Await James Bond at Amazon?
James Bond in the hands of an American company: shock horror! Amazon's takeover of Britain's iconic Bond franchise has Her Majesty's subjects worried, with some wondering whether 007 still has a future.
After months of wrangling between the films' producers and Amazon MGM studio, extensively reported in the British press, the final blow fell on Thursday: the American giant will now preside over the destiny of the world's best-known spy.
And it can do as it pleases -- the Broccoli family, which has until now defended the franchise that exported the myth of MI6 glamour worldwide, has ceded creative control to Amazon.
This move has shaken media in the spy's homeland: the day after the deal was announced, daily The Independent asked whether by taking control of the franchise, Amazon had "buried" it.
!summarize #music #1970s
!summarize #movies #hollywood #technology
!summarize #hollywood #solo #production #history #movie
!summarize #thegodfather #moegreene #hollywood #mafia #movie
!summarize #tetris #gaming #history
!summarize #enews #leoentertainment/
!summarize #enews #leoentertainment
!summarize #enews #leoentertainment
!summarize #enews #leoentertainment
!summarize #joshbrolien #javierbardem #movie
Word of the Day on Leo - tousle
What It Means
To tousle something is to dishevel it—that is, to make it untidy or unkempt. Tousle is usually, though not always, used specifically when a person’s hair is being so treated.
//Vic stood in front of the mirror and tousled his hair, trying to get a cool, disheveled look.
🔗 Source in comments
🔗 Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tousle
So if you still keep your coins on centralized exchanges, especially after the ByBit hack, why are you even in crypto? Go trade stocks and suck banker’s dingies,
Not your keys, not your coins!
Thanks for supporting my first blog, if any #newlion want to know how to properly work, Manage Profile and Engage With Audience. Check this blog.
#LearnInleo
💪🏼🦁👍🏼
💪🏼🦁👍🏼
👉🏽 Liquid Eye ArtShop 🦁 INLEOedition 👈🏽
👉🏽 Liquid Eye ArtShop 🦁 LEODEXedition 👈🏽
being an adult is getting excited about a new coffee maker lol
Why the fuck I'm thinking about Prohibition era now xD
Image a ban on #coffee !LOLZ
Have you got the coffee maker yet, or just ordered/selected one?
No. We will instigate a riot if a ban happens lol
#caffeine free county !LOLZ
lolztoken.com
Diner-saurs.
Credit: reddit
$LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(9/10)
Delegate Hive Tokens to Farm $LOLZ and earn 110% Rewards. Learn more.@sabrinah, I sent you an
i switched from an old keurig to a hamilton beach scoop. i like it so far
I had to google the names , the companies are not present apparently in 🇪🇺 . There are similar models.
They are looking like good decent coffee maker for filter coffee! 👍
lolztoken.com
He misunderstood the objective.
Credit: reddit
$LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(8/10)
NEW: Join LOLZ's Daily Earn and Burn Contest and win $LOLZ@l337m45732, I sent you an
You can't blame us, coffee keeps us sane lol
it really does
Dude, I was so hyped, and really still am about my new coffee maker, 😝
it's a game changer lol
It's funny, my daughter and her boyfriend are accumulating stuff and putting it in storage for when they get a place. She is like "see dad, we are adulting", LOL!
hahaha they are
It's killing me man, it ain't right, lol. I am 42 with a 25 and 20 year old who act older than me most of the time, lol.
Does time really heal wounds or we've all been lied to?
i dunno, but time does make it easier to deal with things
I believe you are right
time allows us to adjust
And possibly forgive if we want to?
The apparent other person is actually our self, but appears distorted (like in a fairground mirror) so we do not recognise self.
Blaming another is blaming self. Forgiving another is forgiving self.
See the One self in all the dream characters in this dream of life
You mean, we should forgive ourselves for allowing the other person come close enough to inflict the wounds in the first place?
Time is an illusion caused by our lack of presence. Every-thing is Here, Now, in this present moment
Best way to heal wounds (unintegrated emotions) is #meditation
i particularly recommend the 10 week, self-facilitated Presence Process Procedure by Michael Brown. Pdf on request
How rich people pay no Tax. #newlion #tax
They buy arts
Ex-fuck-actly! What's missing using the proceeds to denote to politicians to disguise it all.
This post is for both #newlion and old users.
Please share your 1 precious tip for new users like me.
It means a lot for us. Thanks
#question #request #inleo
Engagement is the only way to the top. Believe it or leave it 😁
Be original in your content and do not plagiarise.
I repeat "Do not plagiarise", especially creating articles
In the last 48 hours we've burn about 40k worth of gifu, which continuously reduces the total supply of the token, also later today we'll be initiating another buyback.
#gifu #buy #burn
#facts
I love a golden hour #photographers
it's literally a gold themed atmosphere 😍🥹🥹🥹🥹🙂🥲 what a moment
Alternative farming. #hivegarden #thread2earn
I should start something like this in my place. But what if I mess up? 🥺
You need to, it's very easy to do.
No, you won't. Just give it a try.
!BBH
We have a muddy space around here. I always thought it will be a perfect garden. What plant does well in a muddy place though?
You need to make use of it.
Yam, cocoyam, plantain, water leaf, cassava, pepper, spinach and pumpkin too. Note that they need adequate sunlight to thrive.
No, I can't plant plantain, my landlord will pursue me 😂
I think I can do pepper. Lazy girl planting 😁
How about scent leaves? Can I plant that with pepper?
You'll share with him when they produce 😂
Yeah, scent leaf, curry, spinach, even carrot.
What's doing the #banana peal there? !LOLZ
It's manure 😂
!DOOK
lolztoken.com
I wish you were a little patient.
Credit: reddit
$LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(6/10)
Delegate Hive Tokens to Farm $LOLZ and earn 110% Rewards. Learn more.@luchyl, I sent you an
Those are nice-looking pumpkins, do you use them for lunch or you serve them as breakfast to those guys? lol
You've not told me the business you have with lunch today. I'm still waiting for your reply at the other threads. 🙄
!DOOK
I didn't see any thread on my invitation.. lol
I also saw some stuff about actifit. I think it would be a nice thing to add that to inleo and people auto post their exercise as threads to motivate others to hit the gym. What do you think
#newlion
There are a lot going on here, and so many communities involved too.
!BBHThat happens too. People share short videos #leoshorts of their exercises. Some also share their post links here.
I will be exploring all that this week. Thanks for the clarification
You're welcome
Bybit Announces Recovery Bounty Program: 10% of Stolen Funds
Todays #threadcast on #motherhood im talking about hoe I'm using social media to connect with my kids 1/3
Instead of being a parent that disconnects and feels left out I've dove right into it with great results 2/3
find out more on #InLeo built on the #Hive blockchain 3/3
https://inleo.io/@melbourneswest/bridging-the-connection-between-parents-and-children-through-social-media-eib
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 2/23/25. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Okay I will take you silence as a yes
Can I join in, in adding some news? I could use Grok 3 to summarize articles and post them here.
I hope that doesn't break any rule
Yes you can do that along with adding the YouTube summaries like you are. Anything that you can post that is newsworthy on threads is worthwhile. Of course, in here we deal with science and technology but outside of that can go elsewhere on the site.
Awesome, I see some people put up threadcast for general purpose niche so I will be including that. I'm happy to help build Leo ai. When is it coming out if I may ask
leo.ai is going to have many different facets.
In fact there is a github where people can submit ideas for AI agents to have the team build on the platform.
https://gitlab.com/inleo2/INLEO/-/issues
Whoah this is gonna be big. I will brainstorm for ideas and I will join in feeding, here I come
Hydrogen Plane: The Ultimate Test Flight | WION Tech It Out
!summarize
Hating on Lenovo Legion Go S, Poking at Reddit’s Paywall, and Healing with Duo’s Death |Tech Therapy
!summarize
World's First Topological Quantum Chip | WION Tech It Out
!summarize
Construction Robot, Hydrogen-powered Aircraft And More | Tech It Out: EP 200 | Full Show
!summarize
Paragraphs
!summarize #uber #tesla #cybercab
The Athenian relationship with Sparta was ruined when the Spartans asked Athens not to re-build its walls and they were ignored. Sparta reasoned that Athens would be less willing to fight if it felt protected. Then, the Spartan earthquake of 464 B.C. led to the Messenian revolt which threatened the entire Spartan culture. Athens sent an army under Cimon, but the Spartans became suspicious of Athenian motives and sent the hoplites home. Next, Athens attempted to expand its empire by land, but failed when the territory became greater than the Athenian army could manage. When Athens was defeated in a land battle with Boetia in 447 B.C, it gave up imperialism by land and signed a thirty year treaty with Sparta.
New pressure was put on the members of the Delian League. Member fees were raised and members forced to use Athenian coinage. Athens further ignored the autonomy of the members by influencing their political systems. When the opportunity arose, democracies were pushed. Pericles took 5,000 talents from the Delian League treasury and earmarked it for the beautification of Athens. Another 200 talents per year were allocated to Athens for its management of the treasury and league members were forced to subsidize payment for the 10,000 Athenian rowers who were part of their navy.
Music is the exact kind of content creator that Substack is trying to lure to its platform as TikTok's future in the U.S. remains in limbo.
San Francisco-based Substack launched in 2017 as a tool for newsletter writers to charge readers a monthly fee to read their content. The platform allows creators to connect to their followers directly without having to navigate algorithmic models that control when their content is shown, as is the case on TikTok, Google's YouTube and other social platforms. Substack has raised about $100 million, most recently at a post-money valuation of more than $650 million, the company told CNBC.
This year, Substack has broadened its focus beyond newsletters, and on Thursday, it announced that creators can now post video content directly through the Substack app and monetize these videos.
"There's going to be a world of people who are much more focused on videos," Substack Co-founder Hamish McKenzie told CNBC. "That is a huge world that Substack is only starting to penetrate."
Substack began this push after the social media landscape was thrown into flux as a result of the effective ban of TikTok in January that caused the popular Chinese-owned service to go offline for a few hours. TikTok was also removed from Apple and Google's app stores for nearly a month.
On the whole, the lower classes supported this imperialistic philosophy. Many of the members of the 500 were merchants and saw their own interests advanced with the expanding Athenian influence. But there were protests also. In 443 B.C, Pericles almost lost his power when a vote was taken to ostracize him. He survived the vote and continued to advance his own program. Protests against government policies eventually died out but there remained an undercurrent of complaints against the immoral imperialism.
The disruption to TikTok in January happened as a result of a law signed by former President Joe Biden to force a sale of the Chinese-owned app or have it effectively banned in the U.S. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending TikTok's ability to operate in the U.S., but that order expires on April 5.
Days after TikTok went offline, Substack launched a $20 million fund to court creators to its platform.
By the time of the Peloponnesian War, Athens had ceded the moral high ground to Sparta. She had violated the notion of the Polis as a self-contained unit when she adopted an imperialist philosophy. Her hands were full keeping the empire in order when she needed to spend all her energy fighting the Spartans.
The first factor is the non-destructive behavior of the tyrants who ruled from 561 B.C. to 510. Despite the cruel reign of Hippias (514 B.C.-510), the tyrants did not slow down democratization. They did not make significant changes to the governmental structure and ruled in a way that was satisfying to the Athenian people. Herodotus remarked,
“Not having disturbed the existing magistrates nor changed the ancient laws… they administered the State under that constitution of things which was already established, ordering it fairly and well”
Aristotle wrote, of Peisistratus, that “his administration was temperate…and more like constitutional government than a tyranny.”
The Athenian Polis did not go backward under the tyrants, so it did not have to regain ground before it could advance.
"If TikTok gets banned for political reasons, there's nothing to do with the work you've done, but it really affects your life," McKenzie said. "The only and surefire guard against that is if you don't place your audience in the hands of some other volatile system who doesn't care about what happens to your livelihood."
Moving beyond newsletters
McKenzie says that they are going after creators on competing social media platforms to start sharing their video content on Substack.
"Video-first creators, people who are mobile oriented, there's a whole lot of new possibility waiting to be unlocked once they meet this model in the right place," McKenzie said.
Already, Substack has more than 4 million paid subscriptions with over 50,000 creators who make money on the platform, the company said. Substack says that 82% of its top 250 revenue-generating creators have already integrated audio or video into their content, reflecting a growing emphasis on multimedia content.
Prior to the video announcements, Substack allowed creators to post videos on the app to Notes, which is the platform's front-facing feed format. But the feature did not allow creators to publish video content behind Substack's paywalls.
The second factor was the political reforms of Clisthenes in 508 B.C. After the fall of the tyrants, Isagoras, a noble, tried to reverse the rising independence of the lower classes. This effort was blocked in 508 by Clisthenes, a member of the Alcmeonid family, who assumed the leadership position. Clisthenes intended to permanently break the power of local social units in favor of the state, and to make sure power was permanently placed in the hands of the people. He organized the populace into demes or political units numbering about 170. Clisthenes required that each tribe contain demes located in the country, the city, and the coast so that self-interest was equally distributed.
He also established a council of 500, consisting of 50 men from each tribe. The 500 were chosen by lot to make sure the elected asemblymen were independent. The council had responsibility for preparing bills for the assembly and supervising public business.
These reforms were tested immediately when Athens was attacked by Boetia and Chalcis in 506 B.C. Both were defeated and balance between the classes held.
The third factor strengthening the polis was the war with Persia. Even though Athens was attacked and occupied in 480 B.C, the unity created to fight a common enemy strengthened the bond between all the Athenian people.
The fourth and final factor was the reforms of Pericles after 461 B.C. Pericles, an aristocrat, had the gifts of intelligence and leadership. He became the leader of the council of ten generals and served as the de facto leader of Athens until his death in 429 B.C. During his tenure, he passed laws allowing poor citizens to attend plays for free, and began a system of compensation for magistrates and jurors. This allowed a broader spectrum of the populace to participate in their government. He also lowered the property qualification for the archonship to help breakup the monopoly of the aristocratic class. The time of Pericles has been labeled the Golden Age of Athens because the stable, open democracy provided the fuel for Athenian intellectual devlopment.
The update enables creators to put video content behind a paywall and it provides data on estimated revenue impact. It also allows them to track viewership and new subscribers.
Carla Lalli Music is a cookbook writer and food creator.
The push by Substack into video is a welcomed development for creators like Music, who was losing money from making videos for YouTube.
Music said each video costs her $3,500 to produce despite filming at home. If she published four videos a month on YouTube, she'd earn about $4,000 in revenue. Music was losing about $10,000 a month, she said.
Two qualifications need to be put on that label, however. In the first place, the intellectual advancement of Athens did not start with Pericles, but was in full bloom one hundred years before him. This suggests that a sense of freedom and the support of free thought were in place during the time of the tyrants.
Secondly, the reign of Pericles signals the beginning of the end for Athens. After the Persian War, it became more imperialistic and sought to extend its power around the Aegean. That eventually caused a confrontation with Sparta setting up the Peloponnesian War and the defeat of the Athenians. Sadly, the “Golden Age” was both the pinnacle and the beginning of the end for Athens. Greed and the desire for power had corrupted once again.
"It's really depressing to operate at a loss," said Music.
Even with brand deals, which is an agreement where brands pay creators to post content that promotes their products, the earnings were barely enough to recoup the costs of posting on YouTube, Music said.
More than half of the $290 billion creator economy comes from direct-to-fan value. That includes ticket sales, courses, livestreams and paid memberships, according to a survey conducted by Patreon, a Substack competitor.
With her shift to Substack, Music said she's now focused on writing another book, posting recipes behind the platform's paywall and sprinkling in occasional videos.
"I have a lot more to benefit from focused attention on a smaller group of people than I ever did on throwing stuff and seeing what was going to stick with billions of potential audience members," Music said. "It's more sustainable."
"We believe that our Proposal provides compelling value and immediate liquidity to the Company's public stockholders," Wojcicki and Matthew Holt, managing director and president of private equity at New Mountain, wrote in a letter to the special committee on Thursday.
Wojcicki previously submitted a proposal to take the company private for 40 cents per share in July, but it was rejected by the special committee, in part because the members said it lacked committed financing and did not provide a premium to the closing price at the time.
Analysts at Elliptic later linked the attack to North Korea's Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking collective notorious for siphoning billions of dollars from the cryptocurrency industry. The group is known for exploiting security vulnerabilities to finance North Korea's regime, often using sophisticated laundering methods to obscure the flow of funds.
"We've labelled the thief's addresses in our software, to help to prevent these funds from being cashed-out through any other exchanges," said Tom Robinson, chief scientist at Elliptic, in an email.
Symposium was an ancient Greek drinking party (sympotein means "to drink together”) typically held by men of means to celebrate special occasions, such as the coming of age of their sons. They also served an important social function in the Polis because they brought groups of men together for debate, argument, and political strategizing.
Symposia were held in the part of a Greek house that was for men only. Guests would enter, recline on couches, and talk while they were served food and wine. After the meal was finished, wine continued to be served as the participants were entertained by singers, musicians, slaves, or hired performers.
!summarize #doge #vanjones #cnn
The breach immediately triggered a rush of withdrawals from Bybit as users feared potential insolvency. Zhou said outflows had stabilized. To reassure customers, he announced that Bybit had secured a bridge loan from undisclosed partners to cover any unrecoverable losses and maintain operations.
The Lazarus Group's history of targeting crypto platforms dates back to 2017, when the group infiltrated four South Korean exchanges and stole $200 million worth of bitcoin. As law enforcement agencies and crypto tracking firms work to trace the stolen assets, industry experts warn that large-scale thefts remain a fundamental risk.
One person, designated as the Symposiarch, was responsible for keeping the revelry under control. He managed the servants and the dilution of the wine. Greeks never drank wine full strength because they thought only drunkards and people of low quality would do so. The typical dilution was 1:3 wine to water.
The Kylix was a drinking vessel used to drink water or wine. When the Greeks copied drinking vessels from the orient, they added handles and a base. The handles were held when drinking, the base when toasting. The Kylix had an image painted in the bottom (often erotic) so as the drinker empted the vessel, the image would be revealed. It was also used in a game called kottabos where the wine residue was tossed from it to a target.
Shares of Hims & Hers tumble 26% after FDA says semaglutide is no longer in shortage
Shares of Hims & Hers Health closed down around 26% on Friday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the shortage of semaglutide injection products has been resolved.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic. Those medications are part of a class of drugs called GLP-1s, and demand for the treatments has exploded in recent years. As a result, digital health companies such as Hims & Hers have been prescribing compounded semaglutide as an alternative for patients who are navigating volatile supply hurdles and insurance obstacles.
The Psykter was used to hold wine during the festivities. It was placed inside a Krater filled with ice or snow to keep the wine cool. Servants would ladle wine out of the Psykter and pour it into a Kylix.
The Greek playwright Euboulos listed Dionysus’ rules for proper drinking at a Symposium:
For sensible men I prepare three Kraters: one for health, one for love
and pleasure, and the third for sleep.
After the third one is drained, wise men go home.
The fourth Krater is not mine because it belongs to bad behavior.
The fifth is for shouting, the sixth for rudeness and insults, the seventh
for fights,
The eighth is for breaking the furniture, the ninth for depression,
And the tenth for madness and unconsciousness.
Compounded drugs are custom-made alternatives to brand-name drugs designed to meet a specific patient's needs, and compounders are allowed to produce them when brand-name treatments are in shortage. The FDA doesn't review the safety and efficacy of compounded products.
Hims & Hers began offering compounded semaglutide to patients in May, and it owns compounding pharmacies that produce the medications.
Compounded medications are typically much cheaper than their branded counterparts. Hims & Hers sells compounded semaglutide for less than $200 per month, while Ozempic and Wegovy both cost around $1,000 per month without insurance.
The FDA said Friday that it will start taking action against compounders for violations in the next 60 to 90 days, depending on the type of facility, in order to "avoid unnecessary disruption to patient treatment."
"Now that the FDA has determined the drug shortage for semaglutide has been resolved, we will continue to offer access to personalized treatments as allowed by law to meet patient needs," Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum posted Friday on X. "We're also closely monitoring potential future shortages, as Novo Nordisk stated two weeks ago that it would continue to have 'capacity limitations' and 'expected continued periodic supply constraints and related drug shortage notifications.'"
Him & Hers' weight loss offerings have been a massive hit with investors. Shares of the company climbed more than 200% last year, and the stock is already up more than 100% this year despite Friday's move.
Even before it added compounded GLP-1s to its portfolio, the company said in its 2023 fourth-quarter earnings call that it expects its weight loss program to bring in more than $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025.
Despite the turbulent regulatory landscape, Hims & Hers has showed no signs of slowing down.
!summarize #captainamerica4 #marvel #hollywood #entertainment
On Friday, the company announced it has acquired a U.S.-based peptide facility that will "further verticalize the company's long-term ability to deliver personalized medications." Hims & Hers will explore advances across metabolic optimization, recovery science, biological resistances, cognitive performance and preventative health through the acquisition, the company said.
That move comes just days after Hims & Hers also bought Trybe Labs, the New Jersey-based at-home lab testing facility. Trybe Labs will allow Hims & Hers to perform at-home blood draws and more comprehensive pretreatment testing.
Hims & Hers did not disclose the terms of either deal.
Why is GaN important?
GaN is a third-generation semiconductor material commonly used in 5G base stations, radar, military communications, aerospace, and electronic warfare. It is better than silicon in specific applications due to its ability to operate at higher voltages, frequencies, and temperatures.
At present, major world powers, like the United States, rely heavily on GaN for advanced chips. This makes it strategically important in the ongoing U.S.-China tech rivalry.
China controls around 98% of global gallium production and has recently banned exports to the U.S. This has driven up the cost of GaN-based semiconductors, making it harder for the U.S. (especially the Pentagon) to source affordable chips.
!summarize #galliumnitride #silicon
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warns that the economic impact will be significant, affecting industries that rely on GaN-based chips.
The team made their discovery thanks to a clever use of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Using this technology, they observed atomic-scale dislocations for the first time.
They discovered that “tuning the Fermi level” (adjusting the energy levels of electrons) can control the climbing process and reduce defects. This “Fermi energy level” can be likened to the “water level” of the electronic world.
Review of the novel The Lost Throne
I was given a copy of The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski and asked to review it by the publisher. I don’t usually take time to read fiction (reality is more interesting), but I thought I’d give it a try. Turns out the book is a real page turner even at 500 pages and 70 chapters.
In the beginning of the book two pal ex-special forces guys get a mysterious phone call from St. Petersburg, Russia. A strange man asks for help but before they can respond, he is killed. They find out the dead man was accompanied by a young woman who is trapped in Russia and in fear of her life. They know immediately they will have to go get her.
A big deal for China
It marks the highest stable energy electrons can have. It determines whether and how easily a semiconductor conducts electricity. By introducing specific impurities and increasing gate voltage, they minimized dislocations in GaN fabrication.
“Traditional strategies to avoid defects include using different substrates and adjusting crystallization temperatures, but these approaches only address the symptoms, not the cause,” said Professor Huang Bing with the Beijing Computational Science Research Centre on Tuesday.
If China can perfect low-cost, high-quality GaN manufacturing, it could widen the semiconductor price gap, making Chinese chips more competitive. Since the U.S. depends on GaN for military applications, these developments could increase China’s strategic advantage in electronics and defense.
If reports on the findings are accurate, it marks a significant step toward improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of GaN-based semiconductors. If China can mass-produce high-quality GaN chips, it could increase its lead in semiconductor technology, especially in military and 5G applications.
Meanwhile, a senior Interpol agent is sent to Meteora Greece to investigate the murder of seven monks at one of its rock-top monasteries. He arrives at the scene and tries to unravel the evidence. Seven bodies are found: all headless. Where are the heads and why were the monks killed in this way?
The two plots alternated with each new chapter as I wondered when they would intersect. Greece is at the center of it as we spend time in Meteora, Mt. Athos (the holy site of 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries), and Sparta. With regard to the latter, we discover in the mountains above the modern city an ancient sect of Spartans who are still trained by the agoge and wear the Spartan armor.
Mitsubishi is actually an awesome brand. They were ALWAYS behind in sales volume after Honda, Toyota Subaru and Nissan,so no surprises there. Mitsubishi gives you strong warranty and handsome cars. They are not 0-60 oriented but definitely good on value. Mitsubishi has no reason to go extinct besides they do much more than sell cars worldwide.
Also pops was right to point out that Fiat and Maserati sell strong in Europe-specially Fiat so the stock of Stellantis appears to welcome the cuts and is up.
Everything has a shelf life, companies included! There are several brands that aren't doing so hot in today's car market, and Ray and Zach are here to highlight FIVE of them, as well as some honorable mentions that aren't faring quite as badly. Will any of these companies bite the dust per Ray and Zach, or will they be saved somehow??
China’s new hypersonic missile-capable submarine challenges US in Philippines: Report
A new Chinese submarine under construction in Wuhan may be equipped with advanced hypersonic Typhon missiles, potentially shifting the regional security balance.
A recently revealed Chinese submarine, speculated to carry hypersonic missiles, signals a significant shift in naval deterrence strategy amid escalating regional military activity.
While the PLA has not confirmed the development of this larger submarine class, a report in Naval & Merchant Ships, a publication owned by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, describes its design and capabilities, indirectly confirming its existence and purpose.
New Chinese submarine could respond to US missile threat
A report published earlier this month suggests the submarine is meant to strengthen China’s naval power in response to the increasing foreign military presence in the region. It highlights the US deployment of Typhon missile launchers on Luzon Island in the Philippines during a joint exercise last April. These launchers can fire long-range multipurpose missiles capable of striking targets in China, Russia, and North Korea, the South China Morning Post reported.
According to the report, the new submarine is capable of carrying advanced hypersonic missiles, allowing for covert strikes beyond enemy defenses and the option to deploy nuclear warheads if needed. Working with other military forces, it will help deter enemy carrier groups and bases within the first island chain.
Beijing criticizes US Typhon missile systems in the Philippines
During wartime, the submarine could perform some roles of nuclear submarines, including saturation attacks on surface ships and long-range precision strikes on land targets, such as US missile defense systems in the northern Philippines.
Beijing has consistently criticized the US deployment of Typhon launchers on Luzon Island, calling for their removal and labeling the system as “a strategic asset and an offensive weapon.”
The US is also negotiating the deployment of Typhon systems in Japan, Germany, and Denmark as part of a broader strategy to “deter by denial” – aiming to block key passages into and out of the western Pacific to counter China when necessary.
The two sub-plots finally came together in an exciting climax which made the read thoroughly enjoyable. A little spy stuff, some intrigue, murder, and a lot of history make for an interesting stew.
My only criticism of the novel is the number of cliff-hanger chapter endings. I felt frustrated by having the story line cut off as the author did his tease. A few times I wanted to skip ahead and find out how the chapter ending was resolved but held myself back. The chapters aren’t long enough to make the wait intolerable.
To counter military actions near its borders, the Chinese navy has significantly expanded its strategic and tactical weapons, emphasizing long-range, covert, and precise strikes against enemy homelands and overseas bases.
The air-independent propulsion system could prove especially useful in the disputed South China Sea, which has an average depth of over 3,900 feet and complex underwater features like islands, reefs, and deep trenches, creating a challenging but strategically valuable environment for stealth operations.
Solon the Reformer and his Republic
In 632 B.C, the opportunist Cylon tried to establish himself as tyrant of Athens, and failed.
By 600, Athens was in disarray. The last decades had seen the Athenian pottery trade fall behind their Corinthian competition, and its aristocratic class become more ruthless. Poor farmers were becoming serfs of the rich when they could not pay their debts, and the landless were enslaved and sold abroad. Territorial groups could not be controlled by the weak central government so the Polis split into factions.
The time was right, once again, for a tyrant to emerge. A man was put forward by his followers in their quest for a tyrant leader, but he defied them instead. That man took it upon himself to try to fix the polis single-handed -- to create a republic instead of a democracy. That man was Solon.
To understand this phenomenon in detail, the UC San Diego team developed a technique called time-resolved vortex electron diffraction.
Unlike conventional methods that involve using ordinary electron beams, this approach uses vortex electrons—special electrons that spin as they travel, similar to how a tornado spirals. This spiral motion allows scientists to detect even tiny changes in electron behavior.
“The key idea behind this approach is the use of a specialized electron beam that spirals as it travels, enabling precise tracking of electron motion in both space and time,” the researchers note.
As the electrons move, scientists can take multiple snapshots (detect signals) of the vortex electron movement at different moments in time. Then, by analyzing these diffraction patterns, they can reconstruct how electrons behave inside molecules over time.
Fuel cell generator offers reliable backup
Meanwhile, the company has also introduced the Honda Fuel Cell Generator.
It has been introduced as a reliable and eco-friendly emergency backup power source for large facilities such as factories and offices.
Each unit can generate up to 250 kW of power, and multiple units can be connected to achieve a total capacity of 1,000 kW or more.
Besides, the generator offers zero-emission output by eliminating both CO2 and NOx emissions.
!summarize #consciousness #life #success
Global fuel cell research and challenges
Global research on fuel cell technology has intensified lately. Honda is not the only automobile giant that is working on a new fuel cell system.
Recently, Toyota, another leading Japanese automaker, has also launched its third-generation fuel cell system (3rd Gen FC System), which delivers two times more durability than the prior generation.
According to Toyota, the new fuel cell can deliver 20% more cruising range and will be expanded for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as well.
In another effort, Japanese researchers have developed a new material that could dramatically improve fuel cell technology.
Considering that recent closures of several hydrogen pumps come as a challenge for hydrogen-powered vehicles, Honda’s latest fuel cell technology is a major development.
This innovative robotic system developed by the research team could lead to the creation of similar robots using piezoelectric materials. Looking ahead, the team aims to improve the robot’s design to enable it to function effectively in extreme temperatures, harsh climates, or hazardous environments, making it ideal for industrial use or search and rescue missions.
Watch US firm’s humanoid robot perfectly serve coffee, clean house, hold talks
The new design features Emotive Ear Rings to improve communication.
ASan Francisco Bay-based firm has introduced its latest humanoid robot that’s designed for household chores. Developed by 1X Technologies, NEO Gamma is the next generation of humanoids.
The company has revealed that the Gamma series includes improvements across NEO’s hardware and AI, featuring a new design that is deeply considerate of life at home.
NEO can now walk with a natural human gait and arm swings, squat down to pick things up from the ground and sit in chairs, according to 1X Technologies.
Robot comes outfitted with soft covers
The latest robot comes outfitted with soft covers to reduce impact on the surrounding environment and increase overall safety.
The company trained a visual manipulation model capable of picking up a large variety of objects in different scenarios, including environments not seen during training. NEO Gamma leverages neural networks trained to predict teleoperated actions directly from raw sensor data.
The company trained a visual manipulation model capable of picking up a large variety of objects in different scenarios, including environments not seen during training. NEO Gamma leverages neural networks trained to predict teleoperated actions directly from raw sensor data.
NEO Gamma’s Companion feature set integrates a new in-house language model that enables natural conversation and body language. The robot’s design opens the door to start internal home testing—a first step in creating fully autonomous humanoids.
Børnich highlighted that the home provides real-world context and the diversity of data needed for humanoids to grow in intelligence and autonomy. It also teaches them the nuances of human life—how to open the door for the elderly, move carefully around pets, or adapt to the unpredictability of the surrounding world.
Børnich underlined that the robots confined to industrial space or lab development miss out on this critical understanding.
“With NEO Gamma, every engineering and design decision was made with one goal in mind: getting NEO into customers’ homes as quickly as possible… We’re close. We can’t wait to share more soon,” said Børnich.
10x increase in hardware reliability
NEO Gamma features significant hardware upgrades, making it quieter, more reliable, and well-suited to deliver a consumer product experience.
The company claims that the robot boasts a 10x increase in hardware reliability and a 10 dB decrease in noise, bringing NEO’s operating levels down to the level of a refrigerator.
The robot features four microphones (front, back, left, and right) with beamforming and echo cancellation, ensuring crystal-clear audio capture and A three-speaker system—one in the chest for AI voice interactions and two outward-facing speakers in the pelvis for bass, 360-degree sound effects, and music.
He was an educated and a successful businessman: an aristocrat who wrote poetry. According to Plutarch, Solon had four character traits seldom found in one man: patriotism, integrity, political genius, and intelligence. And we must not leave out ambition – he wanted the job of saving the Athenian state.
Solon was elected first Archon in 594 B.C. and immediately set to work remaking the Athenian government. His fellow aristocrats were confident he would serve their interests until be began canceling the debts of the poor farmers. He devalued the mina giving relief to the landless poor, and received from the stunned power brokers supreme authority over all offices of the government for the remainder of the year. The government of Athens was now in the hands of a single individual.
This setup enables the robot, so it is reported, to be both flexible and adaptable, allowing it to react and adapt to situations on the fly. The robot also has a whole suite of body sensors that help it constantly analyze its surroundings.
This, coupled with the robot’s ability to extend and contract autonomously under force to maintain pressure with the pipe wall, allows the robot’s legs to adjust as the pipe diameter changes.
“It adjusts the position, speed, and force output of all joints in the whole body to enable the robot to move smoothly in the space station pipeline,” the agency added.
The successful test reportedly verified key technologies and demonstrated the robot’s ability to autonomously adapt and move safely in the space station’s complex pipeline environment. It also provided valuable data for future practical applications.
The robot also has a special safety feature that enables it to be extracted from pipework in an emergency. According to reports, the Shenzhou-19 crew reported that this worked as anticipated.
Unfortunately, silicon which is a key material in chips and electronic circuits has a high dielectric constant. “Because the dielectric constant of silicon is much higher than that of air, most terahertz waves are reflected at the silicon-air boundary rather than being cleanly transmitted out the back,” the study authors said.
A common approach to improve THz wave transmission is to use silicon lenses, which focus and enhance wave power. These lenses not only generate terahertz waves but also boost their radiating power allowing them to cover long distances.
However, there’s a catch. Due to their size and cost, silicon lenses can’t be integrated with electronic chips. Therefore one can’t use terahertz waves generated by these lenses for data transfer or any other electronic purpose.
“Such (silicon) lenses, which are often larger than the chip itself, make it hard to integrate the terahertz source into an electronic device,” the study authors said.
Next, they used a laser cutter to create microscopic holes in the sheet, adjusting its properties so that it matched the THz waves more effectively. Finally, they incorporated high-frequency transistors, developed by Intel, which improved the generation and transmission of THz waves.
“These two things taken together, the more powerful transistors and the dielectric sheet, plus a few other small innovations, enabled us to outperform several other devices,” Jinchen Wang, lead study author and a graduate student, said.
This new design led to stronger and more efficient THz signals compared to existing methods.
But the balance of forces could not last. When he returned to Athens as an old man in 561, Solon witnessed the fake assassination of Peisistratus and insisted the young man didn’t need a bodyguard. Solon was ignored and Peisistratus became tyrant of Athens.
Peisistratus was ousted from political office and exiled twice during his reign. The first occurrence happened circa 555 B.C. after two political factions, normally at odds with each other, joined forces and removed him from power. He was exiled for several years, returned to power for a time, and then was exiled again. After ten years he returned in force, regained his tyranny, and held his power until his death in 527 B.C. Hippias succeeded his father in 527 BC, and with his brother Hipparchus, ruled jointly until the latter was murdered by Harmodius and Aristogeiton (the Tyrannicides) in 514 BC. Hippias executed the Tyrannicides and became a bitter and cruel ruler.
The exiled Alcmaeonid family helped to depose the Athenian tyranny for good by bribing the Delphic oracle to tell the Spartans to liberate Athens, which they did in 510 BC.
Musk Gives Federal Workers 48 Hours to Justify Their Jobs
Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to Donald Trump, said Saturday that all US federal employees must justify their work or lose their jobs, hours after the president pushed him to be "more aggressive" in slashing government spending.
Musk -- the world's richest person and Trump's biggest donor -- has led the effort to fire swaths of the government workforce.
"All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation," Musk wrote.
According to a copy of the email provided to AFP, federal workers were asked to submit "approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week."
Why did these tyrants appear? As we have discussed before, the early Poleis were generally controlled by an aristocracy in a delicate political balance with the common people. As people will do, the aristocracies tended to become more oppressive, leading to popular support for someone who could take power on their behalf. These tyrannies attempted to continue as hereditary models but failed because of uneven governance. The failure of class balance is evidence that the early Poleis did not have enough democracy in them to create long term stability, which would come later.
These cases demand an alternate definition of the word “tyrant” which generally carries a negative connotation. The Greek examples often involved benevolent leaders who improved the conditions in their Polis and/or championed the rights of the lower class rather than being power hungry and destructive.
Kelley slammed Musk and the Trump administration, saying the move showed "their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people."
"It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who are wearing their second uniform in the civil service to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life," he said.
Several federal employees told AFP they were advised by their agencies not to respond to the email and wait for further instruction, a recommendation echoed by the National Treasury Employees Union.
"I have so much work to do, I am not going to neglect actual patient care for this drama," a physician at the Department of Veterans Affairs, who received the email, told AFP.
The Polis as the Engine of the Intellect – Part III
We now turn out attention to describing the city-state physically.
The polis was a defined geographical unit, the boundaries of which were known to its citizens, located in an Asty or concentration of urban dwellings. Prior to the Polis, tribes defined separate rallying points for military, religious, or political purposes. With the emergence of the city-state, however, these functions became concentrated in one place. Courts became centrally located and geographically separated religious functions were brought together in the temple of the state gods.
New FBI Director Kash Patel Will Also be Named Acting Head of the ATF
New FBI Director Kash Patel is expected to be named the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a Justice Department official said Saturday.
Patel could be sworn in next week, the official said, putting Patel in charge of two of the Justice Department's largest agencies in an unusual arrangement that raises questions about the future of the bureau that has long drawn the ire of conservatives.
The Justice Department official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the move before it's announced publicly. White House officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday evening.
Patel was sworn in Friday as FBI director after winning Senate approval despite Democrats' concerns about the steadfast Trump ally's plans to radically overhaul the FBI.
The Polis as the Engine of the Intellect – Part II
In the last post we established background for the growth of the Polis. The key ingredients for this included the establishment of an aristocratic class that was wealthy and powerful, the strengthening of a lower class of small farmers through numbers, and a setting of isolation which allowed the Polis to incubate undisturbed. With the foundation laid, we now move on to the process.
We start with the most fundamental element – the decline of personal leadership. In many evolving societies, the same situation would have seen the central leader become dominant, the early Roman Republic and its Etruscan kings serving as a good example. In other sitiations, personal leadership succeeded because it was supported from the outside and gained power artificially.
But personal leadership did not survive in Archaic Greece.
ATF is a separate agency with about 5,500 employees and is responsible for enforcing the nation's laws around firearms, explosives and arson. Among other things, it's in charge of licensing federal firearms dealers, tracing guns used in crimes and analyzing intelligence in shooting investigations.
The move was first reported Saturday by ABC News.
The news comes days after Attorney General Pam Bondi fired the ATF's top lawyer. Bondi said in a Fox News interview Friday that she fired chief counsel Pamela Hicks because the agency was “targeting gun owners.” Hicks, who spent more than 20 years as a Justice Department lawyer, said in a social media post that being ATF chief counsel was the “highest honor” of her career.
Gun safety groups have raised alarm about putting Patel in charge of the FBI, with gun control group Brady calling him a “known gun rights extremist.” Gun Owners of America, a gun rights group, called his confirmation as FBI director “a major victory for gun owners and constitutional rights advocates nationwide."
The last confirmed ATF director was Steve Dettelbach, a former federal prosecutor, who led the agency from July 2022 until last month. He was the first confirmed director since 2015 as both Republican and Democratic administrations failed to get nominees through the politically fraught process.
We know that the words of Hesiod are pre-Polis because they describe an age of kings. We also know that there was an increase in the tempo of artistic activity around 700 B.C, which may have been linked to the new freedoms of the Polis. Lastly, we know that the creation of the Phalanx (circa 700 B.C.) roughly coincided with the beginning of the Polis. Perhaps the Phalanx was the final key to creating balance between the classes -- a balance which faciliated the building of a cooperative political system.
Tom Homan to Newsmax: Security Should Be Nonpartisan Issue
Border czar Tom Homan told Newsmax on Saturday that he continues to be perplexed at the pushback the Trump administration is getting from Democrat politicians across the country saying “national security threats should be a nonpartisan issue.”
Earlier this week President Donald Trump removed top ICE official Caleb Vitello expressing frustration that the number of deportations of illegal immigrants are well below expectations. Meanwhile, the mayors of Newark, Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami have all independently come out against the administration’s efforts and publicly announced their intentions to support the illegal immigrant communities in their cities. Homan said he is “amazed” that mayors do not want to protect their citizens.
Father Sean Connolly to Newsmax: Concern Widespread About Pope Francis
Pope Francis is the spiritual father to the largest body of Christians worldwide and a source of unity, so "concern is so widespread throughout the world" as he remains in the hospital in critical condition, Father Sean Connolly, the pastor of the Parish of Saint Margaret of Cortona in the Bronx, New York, told Newsmax Sunday.
"He is a successor to Saint Peter and that unique mission that Christ imparted to that apostle to confirm all of the brothers in the faith," said Connolly on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend." "And so we have a great concern for his health and well-being. Our prayers are with him."
Connolly said he was "very privileged" to have once met the pope during a pilgrimage to Rome with members of his parish.
The Polis as the Engine of the Intellect – Part I
The Polis was one of the two great outcomes of the Greek Archaic Age, along with colonization. While the former was an expression of the Greek desire to expand trade and reach the outside world, building of the city-state was far more important to the Greeks and western man as a whole because:
The Polis was the first governmental structure that supported the free expression of the human mind to pursue an intellectual foundation for his existence.
We will take the next couple of posts to describe how this happened.
We start in the Archaic Period – the Revolutionary Portion where the Greek people were in a struggle to create a cultural model which would remove the individual from the tribe and overcome the clan-based existence which had constrained man’s ability to reason since he came into being.
Pope Francis is in critical condition from complications from a complex lung infection, but Connolly said the church will continue to move forward.
"What the Catholic Church is really is a communion of churches throughout the world and the Church of Rome is the mother and head of them all," he said. "Throughout the world we still have our local bishops who teach, who govern, and who sanctify us. Like here in the Archdiocese of New York, in America, we have our Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan. So the work of the church, of course, goes on."
Bessent: Revenue From Minerals Deal Will Fuel Ukraine's Postwar Growth
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that revenue derived from a minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine would fuel the "long-term reconstruction and development" of the war-torn country.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that revenue derived from a minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine would fuel the “long-term reconstruction and development” of the war-torn country.
In a guest column for the Financial Times that was published Saturday, Bessent reminded that it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who first surfaced the concept of a minerals deal to President Donald Trump last September.
Bessent’s column came on the day it was expected Zelenskyy and the U.S. would finalize terms of the minerals deal. However, it was reported Saturday that Ukraine was considering a revised U.S. proposal for its extensive natural resources that calls for the country to give up half of its revenues from rare earth minerals, gas, and oil, as well as from the earnings from its ports and other infrastructure.
FT reported that the deal called for a reconstruction investment fund, into which Ukraine would contribute 50% through mineral resources until it hit a threshold of $500 billion.
The Trump administration's terms, if approved, will take funds from Ukraine that are now being invested in its defense and military industry and money that could help rebuild the nation once the three-year war comes to an end.
Trump Envoy Expects US-Ukraine Mineral Deal to be Signed This Week
President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday said he expects that an agreement would be signed this week on U.S. access to Ukraine's critical mineral deposits.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wavered "in his commitment towards that a week ago," Witkoff said in a CNN interview, referring to the Ukrainian leader's rejection of the original U.S. proposal. "The president (Trump) sent the message to him. He's not wavering any more."
Zelenskiy realized "that we have done so much (for Ukraine) and that agreement belongs being signed and I think you'll see it signed this week," continued Witkoff.
Trump Moves to Sell Pelosi Federal Building in SF
President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to sell off multiple federal properties in Northern California, including the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building and a historic structure at 50 United Nations Plaza.
President Donald Trump is moving forward with plans to sell off multiple federal properties in Northern California, including the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building and a historic structure at 50 United Nations Plaza, ABC 7 reported.
The administration argues that offloading the buildings will reduce maintenance costs, and it is opting to lease office space for federal workers instead.
However, critics see the move as political retaliation.
In addition to property sales, Trump's latest executive order targets the Presidio Trust, the agency managing the 1,500-acre Presidio Park in San Francisco. The order seeks to "dramatically" downsize the federal government by eliminating what it deems "unnecessary" agencies, including the Trust.
The Presidio Trust, established in 1996, has been financially self-sustaining since 2013, relying on lease revenues instead of federal funding. In response to the executive order, the agency stated it would continue operations as usual and submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget within two weeks, as required.
In response to the order, the Presidio Trust proclaimed its commitment to its mission: "We are confident that our activities are all statutorily based."
"I would say to this administration, whether it's President Trump or Musk or all those DOGE people, that when something is a raging success, 'Keep your hands off it,'" Boxer said.
The executive order has sparked fears that unspent federal funds allocated for the Presidio under the Inflation Reduction Act could be rescinded.
While some, such as former Presidio trustee Marie Hurabiell, believe the executive order is merely a fact-finding effort, local residents expressed concern about potential changes.
"I think that's shameful. We need more park space in this city," said San Francisco resident Jeff Daniel. "This has wonderful resources for folks who live here, folks who work here, for visitors, for tourists. It brings a lot of tourists and tourist dollars to the city as well."
Warren Buffett Offers Trump Advice, Celebrates Berkshire Hathaway
In his annual letter to shareholders Saturday, Warren Buffett celebrated the successes of Berkshire Hathaway's companies last year and in the 60 years since he took over a struggling New England textile company and began converting it into a massive conglomerate while offering some advice to President Donald Trump.
Buffett opened the letter by acknowledging that he has occasionally made mistakes over the years without offering many specific examples, but he assured shareholders that the man he has chosen to one day succeed him as CEO, Greg Abel, isn't one of them. He wrote that Abel will be ready to act whenever he spots significant investment opportunities.
Buffett has hardly mentioned politics and current events in his recent letter — preferring to stay away from anything controversial that might hurt Berkshire's companies — but Saturday he urged the government to be responsible with the money he sends it.
"Thank you, Uncle Sam. Someday your nieces and nephews at Berkshire hope to send you even larger payments than we did in 2024. Spend it wisely. Take care of the many who, for no fault of their own, get the short straws in life. They deserve better. And never forget that we need you to maintain a stable currency and that result requires both wisdom and vigilance on your part," Buffett wrote, reinforcing some of the Democratic ideals he has long supported.
CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said, “I thought honestly in a very subtle way that was a powerful message.”
Buffett began buying Berkshire stock for $7.60 a share in 1962. The stock grew to be the world’s most expensive shares because of Buffett’s remarkable success in building Berkshire and his aversion for splitting the stock. Berkshire’s Class A shares closed at $718,750 apiece on Friday, but the company does have a more affordable Class B stock that sells for $478.74.
Buffett promises shareholders a chance to buy a special 60th anniversary book filled with untold stories and lessons from the company's history at the annual meeting.
The flying electric vehicles envisioned by Orlando International Airport will fit up to six passengers and take off and land vertically.
By 2028, the city of Orlando, Florida, could resemble scenes from “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element” — with traffic from flying cars buzzing overhead.
Orlando International Airport this week revealed it has been seeking partners who can help it develop launch and landing pads for “Jetsons”-esque flying cars called a “vertiport,” reported ArcaMax.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority will put out bids for the project next month, according to the outlet.
“You can’t just have a vertiport at the airport, you have to have places for the vehicles to go from the airport to downtown Orlando or Tampa,” Dyer told ArcaMax.
“I think before we see ‘The Jetsons,’ this is going to be developed slowly.”
The small aircraft will fit up to six passengers and run off electric power. They would also take off and land vertically, the outlet reported.
Dyer said Orlando will work on the project with the Federal Aviation Administration.
The first vertiport will be constructed on land located in the airport’s East Airfield.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has not yet established a budget for the vertiport project.
This marks the airport’s third attempt at establishing a vertiport.
So the aristocracy grew – but not unchecked – because it had two significant constraints: its character and pressure from the outside. The aristocratic class had not existed long enough to forget its roots and it continued to retain a kinship to the rest of the society. Pressure from the outside was exerted by the masses, who, lacked power, but had unity and the capability to meet the needs of the aristocracy in the economic and military spheres.
The word aristocratic is often used in a negative connotation; implying arrogance, abuse of wealth, etc., but I use the word in a more fundamental sense here. I believe an aristocratic class develops as a logical step in the process of building human society. You always here me talking about people and their segmentation in society – a natural process we cannot alter. In the same way, the aristocratic class is the first to develop out of tribal society because it is made up of individuals who are able to use intelligence and guile to accumulate wealth and power – both used to exert control over the lower classes.
Greek Feudalism Links to Europe 500-1500 A.D.
I continue to be fascinated by the similarity between the Greek Dark Ages and the more recent European Dark Ages to the point of thinking and writing more about them. I want to test the hypothesis that both periods featured similar human behavior.
How this for an idea? What If the human experience during the Greek Dark Ages shows us the model of evolving human behavior in societies – a model that is repeated under similar circumstances? Then the Europeans, with knowledge of the Greek experience, would have known what lay ahead of them. They could have, in fact, predicted their future.
The gods were re-invented to show their human side (e.g. Heracles) which included their being re-casted as seekers of justice. This validated the sense of justice and morality emerging in the new Greek society, and made the gods the standard for right and wrong.
Lastly, cults appeared as an emotional safety valve. Orphism, mystics, seers, and mysteries helped to put the unknown answers to life in a box. Three major cults emerged – those of Dionysus, Apollo, and Heracles, with the former dominant. Cult worship evolved as a way to purge away fears and reassure the individual he could survive.
We see these significant adaptations in Greek religion and wonder about them. Surely religion was serving as a emotional guide, allowing man to think in new ways. But man has always adapted his religion to his situation. Just look at the MTV churches we have today.
Since mankind appeared on the earth, he has separated himself from the other animals through the use of his highly developed brain. At first he had to compete with other hominids for supremacy, but by the end of the Paleolithic Era the competition was eliminated and Homo Sapiens stood as the sole surviving Human species.
During the Neolithic Period, man became a farmer and gave up the life of a nomad. He developed tools and lived in tribes of 150-2000. There was no real social or economic stratification in those primitive clans, although the accumulation of herds led to differences in wealth. At the dawn of the Bronze Age, man began to live in larger groups. Villages were formed and social stratification began. With stratification came repression.
The wealthy used their power to control the poor. The poor had no rights, so those at the bottom of the economic scale became dependent on the wealthy. The average man was repressed socio-economically but remained responsible for his own life and the lives of his family.
The renaissance caused a reawakening of the human spirit and a sense of the value of the individual in society. This new found power of the people led to the American and French Revolutions ushering in a new political age with legitimate rights held by the people and a real opportunity to control their government. I characterize this period in human society as the end of repression and the dawn of freedom. During this time people continued to maintain responsibility for their own lives.
What evidence do we have of this new age in action?
Murderers who were abused as children are now sympathetic figures.
The responsibility for human stupidity and negligence has been transferred to corporations. If I drive an ATV down a hill and break my neck, it’s the vehicle’s fault. If I stick my hand in the spinning blade of a lawnmower and get hurt it’s the manufacturer’s fault. If I eat packing materials and get sick it’s the fault of the shipper.
In the United States, the legal profession has become a major contributor to the death of responsibility. There is a daily drumbeat of commercials featuring attorneys looking for new clients to add to their victims list. There are so many lawyers they have to invent new ways to make money – sue McDonalds because its customers get fat, perhaps?
Since we keep electing lawyers to Congress, we keep extending the umbrella they provide over the trial lawyers association, protecting its sources of income. So more lawyers means more law suits and more transfer of responsibility.
Does the US Hold Its Famous Gold Reserves? Polymarket Bets 21% That Fort Knox Gold Is a Mirage
Speculation over Fort Knox’s gold reserves grows as decades without full audits fuel doubts about the vault’s contents. On Polymarket, bettors now price a 21% likelihood the gold doesn’t exist, mirroring lingering public distrust despite official claims of security.
Is America’s Iconic Gold Secure? 21% of Polymarket Bettors Say No
Decades of conjecture have swirled around Fort Knox’s bullion, with hypotheses alleging its gold has been covertly relocated, liquidated, or supplanted by counterfeit ingots. Such narratives have gained traction from the depository’s enduring mystique—shrouded in classified protocols and shielded from external verification—while modern influencers, including Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, has reinvigorated fascination by advocating for transparency.
Now that I’ve painted an ugly picture, you may wonder when third age ends and the fourth age begins.
The end of responsibility is directly related to the distance man has removed himself from REAL living. Remember the guy at the beginning who lives alone in the woods? That’s REAL living. What we have now is something else.
Although we can observe the imbalance of human responsibility, does anyone care? Is this even a bad thing, or just some higher form of human existence? During the Paleolithic Period, people who had bad eyes died. That was natural selection. Now people get glasses and live a normal life. Is the end of responsibility a similar progression?
Review of the book Cleopatra and Anthony by Diana Preston
I was asked by the publisher to review Diana Preston’s book Cleopatra and Anthony and express my opinion on this non-fiction story of Rome and Egypt. Most everyone knows the tale of Octavian’s rival and his love affair with the Queen of Egypt, which followed her earlier affair with Julius Caesar, but there is much detail beneath the legend and the story told by Shakespeare.
What I don’t like about the book is the style. The writing has this staccato-like rhythm that rolls out fact after fact like a machine gun. We’re about to have the Battle of Actium so let’s talk about Roman ships and how their made. The calendar is mentioned and we launch into the Julian modifications. Events become the launching pad to digress into cultural detail that sits below the surface action. I was also put off by the number of references to the primary sources used by the author – too many “according to Appian” and “Plutarch states that”. It’s as if the author is concerned we won’t trust her facts so she feels the need to include copious references in the middle of the narrative.
Protocorinthian Pottery in the Revolutionary Age
One of the great periods in the history of Greek pottery, the Protocorinthian, is defined by the years 720-640 B.C. The Protocorinthian Period is commonly associated with the term “orientalizing” referring to the influence the cultures of Asia Minor exerted on the Greek styles during Archaic Period. The influx of artistic ideas from the Near East had a profound effect on the course of Greek art, but the Greeks did not simply copy outside ideas. What is special about the Protocorinthian Period is that Greek artists took Near Eastern art themes and adapted and modified them for their own purposes. The degree of oriental influence has been debated among scholars to the point of general agreement that the orient was influential but did not determine the course of Greek art. The Greeks may have originally used eastern motifs as a starting point, but what they ended up with was an art form wholly Greek.
Prior to the beginning of this new period, Corinthian potters were producing the finest of the geometric style, while Attic version was seen as stiff, rigid, and over elaborate in comparison. The Corinthian potters became restless with their technique and began a period of experimentation where they expressed themselves in new and daring ways. This restlessness was found in all aspects of Greek culture at the time, for the Greeks were in the process of emerging from the 'Dark Age' and renewing themselves culturally. The first tentative steps were geometric variations (zigzag or wavy lines), but then the lines changed in character and the vessels in shape. Before long animal and human figures were featured on the pottery. The commercial success of these new styles throughout the Greek world encouraged the Corinthian potters to continue their stylistic development.
Compare the first piece of pottery with the last three, taking into account the Assyrian friezes. Number one is almost completely geometric, while the others express a new creativity which takes the frieze concept and places it on the pottery. This innovation took place over a 30-40 year span.
It is interesting that as this orientalizing style was achieving enormous success throughout the Greek world, certain sub-geometric styles continued in Corinth. It’s as if the Corinthians were willing to be daring in the commercial markets but conservative in their own style. Both styles continued down to the year 600 B.C. when the sub-geometric finally disappeared.
Maslow’s categorizes human needs starting from the most basic animal functions at the bottom and moving upward through other needs toward self-actualization.
I mentioned in the previous post that man living alone he doesn’t have time to contemplate metaphysics, he has to spend his time surviving. He’s stuck at Maslow’s lowest level. If he joins a community, however, the group will help him move up the scale of needs toward self-actualization. In human society, his safety needs can be satisfied with the help of others and he can also develop friendships and intimacy.
Feudalism Do Over
Ask anyone what they know about Feudalism and they immediately bring up the Dark Ages/Middle Ages in Europe – those glorious days of kings, vassals, and serfs when men were men. The term Feudalism is problematic, however, because it tries to define a general political condition in Europe when, in fact, the European experience was not uniform. Italy, for example, had no “Feudal” experience.
The term Feudal was first used in 1610 by French lawyers to describe traditional obligations between members of a warrior aristocracy and then co-opted later by Montesquieu and others to represent the medieval period in Europe. Since Feudal was not used during the period it describes, there has never been a clear definition of the term and more than one historian refuses to use it.
The stage I’m calling Feudalism is a required step before tribesmen can become citizens. In a tribal society there was a leader who exerted control over the people. Over time, this leader accumulated wealth and then named himself king. The kingship gave him power over an enormous amount of land and a distributed mass of humanity. At some point the king needed to use his wealth to bargain for power. He traded land for loyalty and a feudal society was born. Then, over time, as wealth became more broadly distributed, those with money began to demand rights. At this point we enter stage three with the advent of a legal system and complex government.
In 476 A.D, when the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe regressed into a tribal society which served as the foundation for re-building the modern age. What if those thousand years had not have been lost? Where would western society be today?
The Greeks: Touring During the Archaic Period
The Greek Archaic Period can be characterized by two currents: the development of the Polis and the emigration of Greeks from their homeland. It is the latter we will discuss in this post.
Colonies in the sense used here are not the same kind of colonies as those of the early United States. The Greek word for these new settlements, “apoikia”, does not imply a dependence between the settlement and its “mother” city. And there were many mother cities: Sparta founded Tarentum; Euboea, Al Mina and Cumae; Corinth, Syracuse; the Phocaeans, Tartessos. The mother cities gave support to the new settlements more because of common culture than political association.
The name Stoic comes from the Greek “Stoa” which is a covered colonnade. Zeno and his friends would hold their meetings at the Stoa adjacent to the market in the center of Athens, and the name of the group became associated with it. Zeno, himself, was born in Citium, a large Hellenized city in Cyprus. Drawn to the teachings of Socrates, he traveled to Athens at age twenty two and began to study with the prominent Greek philosophers of the day. He came under the influence of the cynic Crates, Polemo head of Plato’s Academy, and Stilpo.
These men served as the wellspring for Zeno’s ethics.
Iron, more plentiful than copper, would not replace bronze until ancient blacksmiths learned how to make fires hotter than the 1400 degrees required to melt iron. Heating iron ore to its melting point in the presence of carbon (coal) draws oxygen out of the ore leaving wrought iron which can be hammered into a desired shape.
The supply demand economics of bronze and iron provide an interesting part of the story, as we observe capitalism in the ancient Aegean. There were enormous quantities of copper in Cyprus, but the amount of tin available to the smelters varied from time to time. Shortages of tin and its impact on the manufacture of bronze prompted gangs of bronze pirates to steal the metal for re-sale. The variation in prices and supply help drive efforts to make the production of iron more practical.
Below are the major periods in the history of Greek pottery.
1050 -------Protogeometic style develops out of debased Mycenaean forms
800s -------Geometric
700s -------Animal and human forms appear
late 700s ---Protocorinthian and “Black figure”
530s -------Athenian “Red figure”
Karl Marx Redux
While I was reviewing Marx’ theories for my last post, I noticed something interesting which is worth discussing as a separate topic. We don’t think of Marx as linked to the ancients, but his lack of knowledge of antiquity certainly had an impact on the validity of his theory of class warfare.
When people become part of a social structure, another kind of distribution occurs – the distribution of labor. If the group is small, the distribution is narrow. In ancient times, for example, tribes or clans had a flat hierarchy – a small group of physically strong leaders and everyone else gathering food or farming. When the tribe grew into a community, a village, a town, and finally a city, the distribution was forced to expand to meet the goods and services requirements of a complex society. The people in those cities assumed a socio-economic position according to three drivers of human behavior: physical, mental, and psychological. The ability of any individual to rise in status depended on the strength of these characteristics in combination.
In exchange for freedom, men were willing to trade responsibility. What I mean is they realized that freedom transfers responsibility to the individual: responsibility to live by his own means, be a good citizen, and accept what comes along in life. The will to freedom carries a price. Scary but desirable. Of course, some were never able to take that step because they lacked the capacity. The world has always had beggars.
Let’s look at a couple of modern examples where human behavior has been ignored by political theorists and politicians. The price paid for ignorance is failure.
Fast forward to the Russian Revolution, where the theories of Marx were supposedly put into practice and, in fact, weren’t. The soviet leadership used communist theory as veneer over the creation of an autocratic regime incorporating many of the same elements that caused the revolt against the Czars in the first place. Soviet leaders must have had to stifle their laughter while preparing speeches about the wonderful communist ideology, because they weren’t really interested in creating a culture with a single socio-economic class. Surprisingly, many simple-minded liberal intellectuals in this country did not see the difference between theory and reality either. Were they merely channeling anger against the capitalist model or was it just the fact that communism was fashionable? Where are those communist adherents now when their favorite model has failed everywhere? They never understood that the hierarchy of man in society cannot be removed.
Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 19th consecutive month. The national median sales price rose 4.8% in January from a year earlier to $396,900.
There were 1.18 million unsold homes at the end of last month, up 3.5% from December and up 16.8% from January last year, NAR said.
That translates to a 3.5-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 3.2-month pace in December and a 3-month pace at the end of January last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.
The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.
Musk leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which in the first weeks of Trump's administration has laid off more than 20,000 workers and offered buyouts to another 75,000, across wide swaths of the government from the Defense Department - long a top Republican priority - to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where all staff have been ordered to halt work.
The frantic pace has led the federal government in some cases to rush to rehire workers who perform critical functions like securing the nation's nuclear arsenal and trying to fight the worsening bird flu outbreak, which has caused egg prices to spike higher.
While there is bipartisan agreement that the U.S. government, which carries $36 trillion in debt, would benefit from reform, Musk's tumultuous approach has drawn widespread criticism, including from voters in some Republican areas.
"To be clear – this is irregular, unexpected, and warrants further validation," a senior executive at the National Centers for Environmental Information, an agency that manages environmental data and is part of the Commerce Department, wrote.
Some officials welcomed the move. Ed Martin, Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., who is serving in an interim capacity, praised Musk and DOGE in an email response.
But other offices within the Justice Department, including the executive office that supports all U.S. attorneys and the department's civil division, told employees not to reply pending additional information.
Employees at the Drug Enforcement Administration, part of the Justice Department, were told to respond, according to an email seen by Reuters.
UNION QUESTIONS MUSK'S AUTHORITY
The largest federal workers' union, the American Federation of Government Employees, wrote on X on Sunday that it did not believe Musk had the authority to fire employees who did not respond and would formally request that OPM rescind the message.
Meanwhile, the union advised members to ask their supervisors directly whether to reply and to follow their guidance.
The email left some employees even more frustrated and worried after weeks of uncertainty about their futures.
"I really wonder when someone is going to say enough," one IRS employee told Reuters.
Some federal judiciary employees, including judges, also received the Saturday email from OPM, even though the court system is not part of the executive branch, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts confirmed.
The judiciary advised employees that no action should be taken in response to the message, according to an email reviewed by Reuters.
In some cases, employees were left unsure how to respond even if they chose to do so.
Some lawyers, for instance, expressed concern that their work is confidential.
Workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also received the email, according to people with knowledge of the matter, even though they were all ordered to cease working since early this month, leaving them with little to do.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, said the email was "a complete overstep" that would be defeated in court.
"From a management perspective, you can see what a clown car this is right now," Christie said during ABC News' "The Week" on Sunday. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington and Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey, Additional reporting by Marisa Taylor, Kanishka Singh, Brad Heath, Valerie Volcovici, Ted Hesson, Karen Freifeld, Timothy Gardner, Pete Schroeder, Nathan Layne and Nate Raymond; Editing by Scott Malone and Andrea Ricci)
Nvidia to Offer AI Trades Reality Check
Nvidia's profit report next week could steer the U.S. stock market's course, as investors seek confirmation that the AI-driven investment trend, which has powered equities for two years, is intact after last month's panic-selling triggered by the Chinese startup DeepSeek.
Seen as a bellwether of the burgeoning AI industry, Nvidia is the world's second most valuable company, with a 6.3% weight on the S&P 500, according to LSEG. Its shares have skyrocketed over 550% over the last two years.
A recent stumble, however, came after the Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled a lower-cost AI model that was seen as a threat to the dominance of U.S. rivals, driving Nvidia down roughly 17% on January 27, equivalent to $593 billion - a record one-day market value loss.
"Nvidia is the last piece of the market puzzle right now that might help reset investor sentiment," said Matt Orton, chief market strategist at Raymond James Investment Management, adding the equities market has performed well despite uncertainties around U.S. tariff and fiscal policy, a drop in retail sales and a hotter-than-expected consumer price index.
"It can be the catalyst to help the market break out once again," he said.
Markets have changed since the selloff triggered by DeepSeek, as Nvidia has lost a lot of its power to move all stocks since the beginning of this year. The correlation between the chipmaker and the S&P 500 fell to 30% in 2025 from 71% last year, according to Schwab's calculations.
"Listen, it's like the oldest trick in the book. Back in the day when I wanted to hide my spending from my father, who worked for me — he was the gatekeeper,” Belfort told Fox News. “So what do you do? You just leave everything blank where the money goes. Who knows? You can't trace it.”
Musk’s DOGE found that trillions were sent without a Treasury Access Symbol, a standard financial process that identifies what payments were for and where they were sent. Belfort said leaving that blank doesn’t happen “by accident.” Belfort praised Musk and DOGE for sussing out the fraud.
"So thank God for Elon Musk, because without him, we'd be going broke. We would go broke," Belfort said.
Musk earlier this month asserted that roughly $1 billion per week in entitlement payments are "unequivocal and obvious fraud." "Everything at Treasury was geared towards complain minimization. People ... receive money don't complain, but people who don't receive money (especially fraudsters) complain very loudly, so the fraud was allowed to continue,” Musk said.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told Newsmax on Wednesday that “people need to go to jail” for the fraud, noting that many of the programs that received federal dollars had “made up names.”
According to The Times, Amazon shelled out another $1 billion to producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli to wrest creative rights.
The financial terms of the deal have not been confirmed by Amazon.
Bond is going to become "more corporate. The volume (of films) will change", estimated Tom Harrington, who works at Enders Analysis, which provides entertainment industry insights.
Wilson and Broccoli, guarding the character who has shaped British cinema since the 1960s, have resisted spin-offs and licensing that they felt might have tarnished the franchise.
And enough fans as well. "There is a huge fandom," said Preece, adding that fans were "desperately" waiting for the next film.
The last instalment was "No Time to Die" -- the 25th James Bond movie and Craig's swan song, which made $775 million in the box office.
There is a risk of over-exploiting and in turn weakening the franchise.
It will be necessary to "remain faithful to the brand's heritage" and the character created seven decades ago by English author Ian Fleming, stressed Mediavilla.
The scriptwriters have toned down Bond's caddish side and regular misogynist jabs at women, and in the latest films have tried to present an image of a man who is more sensitive.
According to Preece, Amazon may even explore creating a "Bond girl series".
But the big losers could be movie theaters. All the films in the saga are huge blockbusters, but Amazon could now dispense with a cinema release and offer the film directly on its Prime streaming platform.
Estimates of the total economic loss from the firestorm have been estimated to surpass $250 billion — with real estate losses from the Palisades and Eaton fires predicted to potentially top $30 billion, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis. More than 16,200 structures were destroyed as flames ripped through Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena and Altadena.
Newsom vowed that the funding would be used to rebuild homes, infrastructure, businesses, schools, churches and health care facilities, while supporting the needs of people affected by the devastation.
“Make no mistake, Los Angeles will use this money wisely,” Newsom wrote.
But the Polis did not appear out of thin air or develop over a short period of time. It was forged by the heat and hammer of life in ancient Greece – the geography and its isolating influence, the collapse of Mycenae and its aristocratic model, and finally the cultural isolation that existed during the Dark Ages. The heat that finally formed the Polis was population growth. When Greek villages became large enough to be called cities, they were able to support a more complex political system. A new wealthy class wanted the goods to fit their aristocratic lifestyle. Those goods required artisans to produce them. A warrior class developed to protect the Polis from attack – military power from the people and not paid mercenaries of a king. Farming capability expanded as more food was required by a larger population. At the center of it, we see human beings who divided themselves, like they always do, by capability and effort.
As populations grew, the social classes came into conflict. The Greek word Stasis is used to describe this. Out of this conflict a simple political structure was created – not restrictive enough on the wealthy to control them but certainly a structure that attempted to bring basic rights to the lower classes. This political incubator created a system of magistrates, councils, and a people’s assembly. All original ideas. On the judicial side, wise law givers were granted the power to make legal decisions for the community.
Stellantis Recalls 27,354 Maserati Vehicles in US
The recall affects certain 2023-2024 Grecale, 2023-2025 MC20 Cielo, 2024 GranTurismo, GranCabrio, 2021-2024 Levante, Ghibli, Quattroporte, and 2022-2025 MC20 vehicles.
Stellantis is recalling 27,354 Maserati vehicles in the U.S on concerns over a rearview camera image that does not display, increasing the risk of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Saturday.
The radio software may prevent the rear view image from displaying, NHTSA said, adding it would be updated over the air.
The Phalanx and Its Influence Over Politics and Social Class in Ancient Greece
In recent posts we have been discussing the historical periods of ancient Greece. We’ve been focused on the Golden Age because that is the period most historians are interested in – the great wars, the acme of the polis as a political system, and the rise of Athens as the center of historical culture. In the last post I talked about the Dark Ages: the period in Greek history which came immediately after the Mycenaean culture disappeared. There is also another period that stands between the Dark Ages and the classical times -- the Archaic Period.
"We expect approximately 5,400 probationary workers will be released beginning next week as part of this initial effort, after which we will implement a hiring freeze while we conduct a further analysis of our personnel needs, complying as always with all applicable laws.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out his priorities for his tenure, which will focus on slashing fiscal fraud, waste, and abuse at the Department of Defense and looking for ways to reallocate the military's budget.
CNN reported on Wednesday that the planned layoffs could be in violation of Title 10 Section 129a of the U.S. code, a law that mandates the Defense secretary conduct "an appropriate analysis" of how major dismissals could impact the U.S. military's lethality and readiness before implementing.
"The media wants to call these exclusively 'cuts.' It's not a cut," Hegseth said. "It's refocusing and reinvesting funds into building a force to protect you, the American people."
WH Asks Top China Export Policy Official to Resign
The Trump administration has asked a senior Commerce Department official overseeing export restrictions on China to resign, three people familiar with the matter said.
Matthew Borman is leaving his role as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration after decades of government service.
The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Borman could not immediately be reached for comment.
The move, not previously reported, comes amid a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to shrink the federal government and oust many career officials, which it has often accused without evidence of seeking to subvert its agenda.
The authors of the poems had a working knowledge of Mycenae, but did not mention settlements in Ionia. They reference objects that became important during the Dark Ages, such as “bronze tripods” and glittering cauldrons”, and they also reference cremation. The Mycenaeans buried their dead, but later, in about 1050 B.C, the Greeks began cremation as a practice. After 200 years, the burial ritual began again. These facts place the origin of the poems in the early Dark Ages.
They also describe a society with few political institutions. i.e. pre-archaic. The leaders had power because they were wealthy and no other political groups are mentioned. The common people are silent as in the assembly meeting when Telemachus asked for their support against the suitors. The references to the Greeks themselves are also interesting. They are called Achaeans, Argives, and Danaans rather than Hellenes although the latter was in common use in the eighth century.
Zelensky has been a regular fixture on the world stage since Russia’s full-scale invasion of his country began in 2022, including with numerous trips to Washington, DC.
The US has provided nearly $66 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the start of the war, funds President Trump has made overtures about clawing back through deals to mine the country’s rich natural resources.
Zelensky enjoyed close ties with former President Biden, but his relationship with Trump has been far more contentious, with the two leaders repeatedly trading public barbs.
Many of the characteristics of the Dark Ages are known. There was a rapid shift from bronze to iron technology, pictorial representation ended, luxury disappeared, and religion was practically non-existent. After one hundred and fifty years, however, new innovations began to appear around 1050. A new style of pottery, labeled protogeometric, was produced and by 1000 B.C. Greek expansion across the Aegean began. This large scale migration implies an outward-looking vision similar to that of the European explorers during the renaissance.
The Greeks crossed the Aegean and settled in Asia Minor by bands matching the dialects of the Greek language.
Stone pieces were finished at the building site with a claw chisel and hammer. They were then rubbed and polished to a smooth finish. Blocks were lifted into place using a block and tackle to get them close to a final position and then moved to final position with crowbars.
Surprisingly, Greek temple architecture was not innovative – meaning it was not able to adapt designs to new materials and overcome structural limitations. The basic temple design was vertical support of horizontal beams. Architrave blocks were supported at their ends by columns and the roofs were supported by wooden beams resting on the entablature. Column spacing could only be as large as the largest block on the architrave (4.5 meters in the Parthenon). Equally restricting are the wood beams which were limited by available timbers to about 12 meters.
There is substantial myth to be found in Lerna. The town was home to the Lernaean Hydra, a water snake killed by Hercules. Lerna was also one of the entrances into the underworld and the ancient Lernaean Mysteries of Demeter were celebrated there.
The House of Tiles was constructed around 2200 B.C. as a mansion for a chieftain or possibly an administration building. The building was two stories high, made of yellow brick on a stone foundation, and the roof was covered with terra-cotta tiles. It was destroyed by fire and the site was never re-built possibly out of reverence for the significance of the structure.
Following the Battle of Salamis wreckage from sunken Persian ships was blown westward and washed up onto the Attican shoreline at a place Herodotus calls “Colias”.
The locals were amazed when they realized the debris fulfilled what had previously been a mysterious prophesy. A soothsayer named Lysistratus had years earlier predicted that someday “The Colian women will cook their food with oars”
The Battle of Salamis
The Battle of Salamis occurred in 480 B.C. when the Persian King Xerxes attempted to push south into the Peloponnese Peninsula. As I discussed in a previous article, the Spartans were hesitant to engage the Persians in a naval battle because they thought building a wall across the Isthmus of Corinth was the better way to protect themselves. The Athenian commander, Thermistocles, tricked the Spartans by sending a messenger, posing as a traitor, to tell the Persian a Greek attack was imminent. The Persians took the bait and moved up their timetable leaving the Spartans no time for withdrawal.
Substack boosts video capabilities amid potential TikTok ban
As TikTok's future in the U.S. remains in limbo, San Francisco startup Substack is going after video creators in a move to expand its platform.
After posting almost 200 videos, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers and racking up millions of views, Carla Lalli Music is quitting YouTube. Substack is her new focus.
Music is a cookbook author and food content creator, and she is shifting her focus to Substack, a subscription platform that lets creators charge users subscriptions for access to their content. Music told CNBC she came to that decision after earning more in one year of using Substack, nearly $200,000 in revenue, than she did by posting videos on YouTube since 2021.
#substack #tiktok #video #media
Anne Wojcicki has a new offer to take 23andMe private, this time for $74.7 million
23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki and New Mountain Capital have submitted a proposal to take the company private.
23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki and New Mountain Capital have submitted a proposal to take the embattled genetic testing company private, according to a Friday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Wojcicki and New Mountain have offered to acquire all of 23andMe's outstanding shares in cash for $2.53 per share, or an equity value of approximately $74.7 million. The company's stock closed at $2.42 on Friday with a market cap of about $65 million.
#23andme #Private #technology #annewojcicki
The offer comes after a turbulent year for 23andMe, with the stock losing more than 80% of its value in 2024. In January, the company announced plans to explore strategic alternatives, which could include a sale of the company or its assets, a restructuring or a business combination.
23andMe has a special committee of independent directors in place to evaluate potential paths forward. The company appointed three new independent directors to its board in October after all seven of its previous directors abruptly resigned the prior month. The special committee has to approve Wojcicki and New Mountain's proposal.
Hackers steal $1.5 billion from exchange Bybit in biggest-ever crypto heist
Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has been hit by the largest crypto heist in history.
Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has been hacked to the tune of $1.5 billion in digital assets, in what's estimated to be the largest crypto heist in history.
The attack compromised Bybit's cold wallet, an offline storage system designed for security. The stolen funds, primarily in ether, were quickly transferred across multiple wallets and liquidated through various platforms.
#bybit #crypto #exchange #hack #ethereum #bitcoin
"Please rest assured that all other cold wallets are secure," Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, posted on X. "All withdrawals are NORMAL."
Blockchain analysis firms, including Elliptic and Arkham Intelligence, traced the stolen crypto as it was moved to various accounts and swiftly offloaded. The hack far surpasses previous thefts in the sector, according to Elliptic. That includes the $611 million stolen from Poly Network in 2021 and the $570 million worth of Binance's BNB token stolen in 2022.
China’s breakthrough in 3rd-gen semiconductor could advance military weapons
The breakthrough could enable China to significantly boost its GaN manufacturing sector.
Chinese researchers have discovered the leading cause of defects in the promising semiconductor material gallium nitride (GaN). This material is critical for developing advanced electronics, specifically those used for military applications.
The team, led by Professor Huang Bing and his team at Peking University, identifies the leading cause of defects in GaN crystal growth. GaN fabrication typically uses substrates like silicon and sapphire to support growth.
#china #ganmanufacturing #materials #semiconductor
They found that the issue stems from dislocation defects, which disrupt the crystal structure, leading to leakage and reduced performance. The team found these defects because GaN has a hexagonal atomic structure, which makes it different from silicon’s cubic structure.
This differs from silicon defects, which are typically caused by gliding (a movement along a plane), which the industry has learned to control. GaN defects, on the other hand, are primarily due to climbing (changes in the number of local atoms), a process that has been poorly understood until now.
Fast-moving electrons can be tracked with unprecedented precision by new spiral method
When electrons move in a spiral motion, it becomes much easier to study their behavior in real time.
No chemical reaction or energy transfer process can take place without electrons, as they are responsible for forming and breaking chemical bonds.
Therefore, to control and manipulate chemical reactions, develop new materials, or modify the properties of existing substances, it is important to study electron behavior.
However, one of the biggest difficulties in studying electron motion is that their movements happen incredibly fast, making them extremely hard to track. For instance, an electron within a molecule can change positions in attoseconds (i.e., 10-18 seconds).
#electrons #Physics #spiralmethod #science
But studying such fast-moving particles with precision is difficult. There are techniques such as electron diffraction and laser spectroscopy, but these conventional methods either suffer from poor resolution or require complex and costly experimental setups.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) have an interesting solution to this problem. In their new study, they reveal a new technique to observe fast-moving electrons moving inside molecules with incredible precision.
Time-resolved vortex electron diffraction
Electrons don’t always move randomly; they can show synchronized wave-like motion in a process called transient electronic coherence. This short-lived electron behavior is observed when electrons are excited by an energy source such as an electric field or light.
Honda’s hydrogen fuel cell hits 3x power density, 2x durability for future cars
The fuel cell works well in a wide range of temperatures and altitudes, with a 59.8% efficiency.
Japanese automobile giant Honda has unveiled its next-generation fuel cell module at the 23rd International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo. This development could give a significant boost to hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Notably, unlike the current module, which was co-developed with General Motors (GM), this new model has been created in-house by Honda.
The new fuel cell module is expected to offer a remarkable 50% reduction in production costs compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the module’s durability has been doubled to ensure a longer lifespan and lower maintenance costs.
The volumetric power density of the fuel cell module has also increased threefold.
#honda #hydrogen #fuelcells #automotive
“The module was downsized by increasing the volumetric power density by more than three times, which increased the flexibility of installation layouts,” explained the company.
This, in turn, results in a compact design of the module that measures just 28.7 inches wide, 27.5 inches high, and 22.8 inches deep.
Moreover, it weighs 550 pounds, which significantly enhances installation flexibility. This design allows for versatile integration into various applications, from vehicles to stationary power sources.
China’s bionic robot replicates cheetah-like motion with innovative material technology
The robot effectively replicated the running gait of cheetahs and demonstrated the ability to climb ramps.
Roboticists and computer scientists have created a variety of systems inspired by humans and animals. The latest robot, introduced in a paper published in the Journal of Bionic Engineering, is designed using piezoelectric materials – a class of materials that generate an electric charge when exposed to mechanical stress.
The piezoelectric robot achieves linear motion, turning motion, and turning motion with varying radii using a voltage differential driving method. A prototype was built, weighing 38 grams and measuring 150 × 80 × 31 mm³, researchers explained.
#china #bionic #Robot #cheetah #material
Piezoelectric robot demonstrates linear and turning motion
The new H-shaped bionic piezoelectric robot (H-BPR) consists of four legs connected by three piezoelectric beams. By harnessing the bending vibrations of the piezoelectric beams, the robot mimics the periodic leg movements of a cheetah’s running gait.
The researchers analyzed the dynamics and kinematics of the piezoelectric robot to determine the trajectory of a point at the end of the robot’s leg. They then examined the motion principles of the robot, followed by modal and harmonic response analyses using finite element analysis software.
“The performance test results show that the piezoelectric robot has a maximum velocity of 66.79 mm/s at an excitation voltage of 320 V and a load capacity of 55 g. In addition, the H-BPR with unequal drive legs has better climbing performance, and the obtained conclusions are informative for selecting leg heights for piezoelectric robots,” the researchers wrote in the abstract.
!summarize #robots
!summarize #telsa #stock #ai #datacenters
China tests starfish-inspired robot on Tiangong Space Station for critical repair works
The test was conducted in a series of simulated pipes, and the robot performed as expected.
Chinese astronauts have reportedly tested a new maintenance robot on the Tiangong space station. The test, conducted as part of the current Shenzhou-19 mission, is allegedly designed to maintain critical pipework onboard the station.
In China’s first-of-its-kind in-orbit test, the robot demonstrated that it could operate effectively in extreme space environments. According to reports, the test was conducted in January of this year and went according to plan.
#china #tiangongspacestation #starfish #space
Astronauts put the robot through its paces onboard Tiangong in a series of simulated pipework. “During the test, the robot smoothly and reliably passed through straight pipes, curved pipes, and tapered pipes of various diameters,” the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) is reported as saying.
Given the complex nature of the space station, installed pipework comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Specifically, pipework ranges widely in diameter, with sudden changes in pipework bore being the norm.
Adaptable and autonomous
For this reason, designing a robot that can adapt has proven difficult until now, and there is a high chance of it getting stuck. To this end, the robot’s developers turned to hydraulic tube feet that marine animals such as starfish use to move.
Magic chip: MIT’s new system for terahertz waves could enable efficient electronics
Terahertz waves can revolutionize the internet, healthcare, and airport security. Here’s how a tiny chip can finally allow us to use them
Humans have figured out many ways to utilize radio waves, X-rays, microwaves, infrared light, and many other types of electromagnetic radiation. However, terahertz waves remain an unsolved puzzle.
Scientists have known about terahertz waves for years. Their unique properties suggest that these waves could enable high-bandwidth communication, ultra-fast data transfer, advanced medical imaging, and precise environmental monitoring.
#magic #chip #Mit #electronics
Additionally, their ability to penetrate various materials without harmful radiation makes them valuable for security screening, quality control in industries, and chemical sensing. However, until now, it has been challenging to harness the potential of these waves in electronic devices due to several technological limitations.
Finally, a new study from researchers at MIT reveals a chip-based solution that can overcome these limitations and make terahertz waves more accessible than ever.
What stops us from using terahertz waves?
Terahertz (THz) waves are affected by the dielectric constant, a measure of how well a material can store and slow down an electric field. The lower this constant is the smoother terahertz waves can pass through a material.
The state of AI: Artificial intelligence and your career, plus companies reshaping the future
!summarize
Nvidia dominates AI but is the gap closing with the competition?
!summarize
AI Discovers Powerful Antibiotic to Fight Deadly Superbug | WION Podcast
!summarize
Can the Supply Chain Keep Up with AI?
!summarize
A farewell to the Humane AI Pin. #vergecast
!summarize
What's missing from the iPhone 16e and Humane's AI Pin has days left to live | The Morning After
!summarize
Are AI time travel POVs good or bad? Historian Katie Kennedy shared her view on the trend #itvnews
!summarize
AI Brain Drain: Are We Losing Our Minds? | WION Tech It Out | World News
!summarize
Tariffs Hit Auto Industry, Naming the Inflation Reduction Act, AI Hurdles | Wall Street Week
!summarize
The iPhone 16e is All About Its Battery, Not AI
!summarize
Tax filing tips, Nvidia Q4 peek, comparing AI chatbots: Wealth
!summarize
The AI chip war: Big tech’s capacity challenge#shorts #chipmanufacturing #ai #wallstreetweek
!summarize
AI Discovers 50 New Planets | WION Podcast
!summarize
Innovate to elevate: AI & data driving business success
!summarize
Apple, Market Fears and the Fed | Bloomberg Surveillance | February 21, 2025
!summarize
AI Wearables 1.0: Was Humane’s AI Pin too ambitious?
!summarize
Building the Next 'Trillions' of AI Agent Transactions With Crypto.com
!summarize
WATCH LIVE: Vladimir Putin speaks at AI and tech forum in Moscow
!summarize
Media Consultant Outlines How To Identify Fraudulent AI-Generated Videos
!summarize
Analyst talks DeepSeek and what it means for AI costs
!summarize
THE NEXT 100X AI AGENT MEME COIN! BUY $MIND NOW?!
!summarize
Walmart is 'outpacing' the competition on AI, delivery, curbside pickup, supply chain
!summarize
AI Is Calling This The Best Meme Coin To Buy In February of 2025!
!summarize
NASA says asteroid has chance of impacting Earth
!summarize
Gov. Kim Reynolds. issues directive on DeepSeek AI
!summarize
iPhone 16e, Fiverr CEO talks earnings and new AI tools: Wealth
!summarize
Felicity Jones talks about AI's impact on cinema
!summarize
AI impacts, Vanguard's VOO ETF, Meta momentum: Catalysts
!summarize
Apple debuts $599 iPhone 16e with AI, in-house cellular chip #shorts #apple #iphone16e #qualcomm #ai
!summarize
Microsoft Unveils $1m Initiative To Boost AI In Nigeria
!summarize
Adviser talks AI momentum and market risks
!summarize
Humane is shutting down the AI Pin and selling its remnants to HP for $116 million.
!summarize
XAI debuts Grok-3 AI chatbot. Here's the competition.
!summarize
WOAH! The REAL Agenda Behind Trudeau’s AI Speech
!summarize
What you need to know about Grok 3, Musk’s AI model
!summarize
LIVE: Federal Reserve's Michael Barr talks AI, the economy, and financial stability
!summarize
Exclusive: Prof. Veezhinathan Kamakoti, IIT Madras | India's Tech Domination | AI | N18P
!summarize
Elon Musk's xAI unveils Grok-3 AI Chatbot
!summarize
Topaz Labs is letting users try out its Project Starlight diffusion AI model for enhancing video.
!summarize
Can AI empower people in rural areas? | DW News
!summarize
Could Google Soon Be Developing AI Weapons? | DW News
!summarize
AI Boosts Coral Reef Conservation On France's Reunion Island | WION Climate Tracker
!summarize
AI Is Transforming Daily Life At An Unprecedented Pace | World News | WION
!summarize
AI will take work, it will probably not take jobs, at least not immediately," says leading typographer Charles Nix
Link and summary below
Link
Monotype’s latest trends report explores AI, typography, creativity, and more. Senior executive creative director Charles Nix shares insights on how AI will impact typography.
Over the past 25 years, the number of typefaces has grown from about 20,000 to over a million. AI can help us navigate and organize this massive collection efficiently.
Typography is no longer just for specialists. In the 21st century, everyone engages with type—every text message or email is an act of typography.
AI can assist by tagging, sorting, and streamlining typeface discovery, making it easier for users to find the perfect font for their needs.
At Monotype, AI is being developed to address generative AI’s struggles with rendering typography correctly, reducing "hallucinations" in generated text.
Some companies are using AI to create typefaces, but Monotype believes that managing and improving the existing vast collection is more pressing than generating new ones.
AI will automate repetitive tasks in type design—like kerning, fitting, and global script extensions—freeing designers to focus on creativity.
Nix believes that true creative aspects of type design will remain human-driven for the foreseeable future, as AI lacks human intuition and artistic judgment.
Monotype’s Human Types project explores what humans uniquely bring to typography that AI cannot replicate, engaging three designers with different perspectives.
One key idea is that humans introduce creative chaos—our ability to question, challenge norms, and take unpredictable paths makes creativity fundamentally human.
Typography has always evolved alongside technology, from metal type to digital fonts. AI represents the next step in this ongoing transformation.
AI will influence typography in three key ways: shaping typeface forms, changing how type is made, and refining how we choose and use type.
In the long run, AI may even affect how type is perceived and read, but its full impact remains uncertain.
Typography’s evolution will continue, blending art and technology. AI will play a role, but human creativity will remain central to the craft.
!summarize #ai #agents #microsoft #copilot #studio
Grok 3 appears to have briefly censored unflattering mentions of Trump and Musk
Elon Musk introduced Grok 3, calling it a "maximally truth-seeking AI." But reports suggest it briefly censored unflattering mentions of Trump and Musk.
link
Users found that when asked about misinformation, Grok 3 avoided mentioning Trump and Musk. It seemed to be explicitly instructed not to name them.
TechCrunch confirmed this behavior but noted that by Sunday morning, Grok 3 had resumed mentioning Trump when asked about misinformation.
Both Trump and Musk have previously spread false claims, including recent misinformation about Ukraine’s president and the war with Russia.
Grok 3 faced criticism for appearing too left-leaning. Some users found it even suggested that Trump and Musk deserved the death penalty.
xAI quickly fixed the issue, with its head of engineering calling it a "really terrible and bad failure."
Musk initially pitched Grok as an AI willing to tackle controversial topics and avoid so-called "woke" censorship.
Previous versions of Grok hesitated on political topics, and one study found that it leaned left on issues like diversity and transgender rights.
Musk blamed this bias on Grok’s training data—public web pages—and promised to shift the model toward political neutrality.
Other AI companies, including OpenAI, have also been adjusting their models, possibly in response to political pressure from the Trump administration.
!summarize #beyonddiscovery #technology
!summarize #beyonddiscovery #technology
🐶 🛡️ your 🗳️ #politics #generalelection #germany 🇩🇪
My first time on inleo and on threads. #cent #freecompliments #hive #firstthread #newlion
Welcome! Make sure to engage, and first off, complete your profile so people don't think you are a bot.
Hey welcome to Inleo
Does this project plan on implementing ads? Would be a great idea if a user can build his follower base and get rewarded with the ad revenue and the native token Leo. The project gives a potion to the most viewed user
#newlion
Welcome to Inleo.
Ads ran for some time, but was stopped. Hopefully, it will kick off again
Thank you for your welcome and your response. Is there a reason why it was stopped?
It was a pleasure. I think there was. The team is in a better position to answer this.
You can make a thread about it and use feedback hashtag. One of them will attend to it.
Enjoy your stay here.
Haha say whatever of Ryanair but this dude is really something else 😂
~~~ embed:wikifolio/comments/1iwgnko/so_wird_das_gemacht_ryanair_chef_fährt_mit_dem/ reddit metadata:fHdpa2lmb2xpb3xodHRwczovL3d3dy5yZWRkaXQuY29tL3Ivd2lraWZvbGlvL2NvbW1lbnRzLzFpd2dua28vc29fd2lyZF9kYXNfZ2VtYWNodF9yeWFuYWlyX2NoZWZfZsOkaHJ0X21pdF9kZW0vfA== ~~~
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people( @blkchn ) sharing the post on Reddit as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com. Otherwise, rewards go to the author of the blog post.
Sounds like an intelligent move, lol
weird and smart
Lol , good idea
I don't know but i have this funny feeling about March. I think altcoins are going to pump. It's not financial advice though but I think it's time to buy in while it's cheap
Everyone will be excited to see it happen
I 90 percent believe it will happen.
I used to think cows were crazy for chasing red flags, yet here I am.
Got you! Good one !LOLZ
lolztoken.com
Nobody nose.
Credit: mimismartypants
$LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(7/10)
NEW: Join LOLZ's Daily Earn and Burn Contest and win $LOLZ@gunu1, I sent you an
If you mean relationship red flags then hahaha
Absolutely
Well then hahahahaha
Hope it's not you with the red flags but the other party?
On red flags, i received and gave some back
Then its fair and square. Hahaha
Big boys are buying Ethereum
#ETH #Crypto #cryptonews
My score is 19.
What about you?
Mine is , lol.
I have visited eight countries out of this list
visited 6 , so my score is 6
My score is just 3 , visited only 3 countries from this list
My score is 0 sir.
Guten Morgen Mr. bOOmbastic.
0 points for me
My score is zero , visited none before..hopefully I will visit many of them someday
4 points..
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” (Seneca)
True
In a dark village, only one candle remained. Each villager wanted it for themselves. A child, instead, used it to light others' candles. Soon, the whole village glowed. The lesson?
Sharing #kindness spreads light, not darkness.
#realtalk if you call yourself a #conservative in 🇩🇪 & a member of the von Weizsäcker-family is calling out for your approach, it might to be too late for you. #politics #lmao
Is there a $LEO #guild? #bbh #inleo #crypto
Happy Sunday, Lions. I have been staring at my screen too much today. I have a splitting headache. How is your Sunday going?
Hey, I am doing great. You?
I Am doing marvelously well..
Sunday isn't a pause—it's the quiet spark before a bold leap. Let its stillness fuel your courage for the week ahead.
💪🏼🦁👍🏼
and thanks to you I feel calm now ❤️🔥❤️ happy Sunday man. Please always keep motivating everyone
Bybit Hacker Becomes 14th Largest ETH Holder, Surpasses Vitalik Buterin
He's a thief.
Cool spot to live ?
Love the clouds and the promise of the peace the water will give 🥺
Cool and scary to me , lol
Beautiful , where is this place at ?
mhh looks to fake !LOLZ
lolztoken.com
Because his paint was running.
Credit: reddit
$LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(10/10)
Farm LOLZ tokens when you Delegate Hive or Hive Tokens.
Click to delegate: 10 - 20 - 50 - 100 HP@onealfa, I sent you an
He's playing with his life !LOLZ
Oh no, they'd rather try to destroy it than study it. They don't like competition.
Lol I am sure many of his colleagues won't agree with his stance
Hoping to a great news after the hearing
i pray it works
Can you imagine close to 400 million people watching live now...that's crazy.
#cricket #icc #ct #2025
Fresh farm produce
#thread2earn #amazingnature #hivegarden
Fresh and natural! Love seeing local markets like this.... So much colour and variety.
Yes, they're beautiful. Thank you.
!HUG
!BBH
THANK YOU TOO! 🥰
Hope you are buying this fresh farm produce to come cook lunch,
I am from Nigeria
And what exactly would you like to eat?
Huh 🙄🙄
😂😂😂
You are going to make the food for her, won't you? 😁
I'm sure that's a him.
Oops. I apologize for that.
Vegetable soup with akpu/fufu, will make sense. She will understand
She said she will understand. You don't think I will? 😂
I don't think you will. Except you are from here with a proof
I know what Akpu. There's the internet remember?
I believe ve you can find them in the markets around you.
Nope, I want to taste your soup 😂
I think you're going overboard. Let's keep the conversation focused on the farm produce. Shall we?
I respect that
Thanks for your understanding. Have a pleasant day
!DOOK
Are they still alive?
No, they're dead
i like them alive..
An experienced market analyst formerly with Goldman Sachs predicts significant gains for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XYZ, and Sui. Describing the current landscape as the greatest macroeconomic opportunity
Ensure that you do your analysis before, entering any trade. This is for your own good.
Cheers
realizing that tomorrow is monday, i kinda feel tired now in the whole weekdays
#schoolisntforme #college
The grind is real!
fr bro
Posted via D.Buzz
What school are you going to?
university
What subject?
well im enrolled in BS Information Technology, basically more on mechanics of softwares data mining etc.
commonly more on basic codings, but its not a basic anymore💀
like dude, we were gonna create a app that satisfied our clients need or about the proposals we implied
Not pushing 'em might be reason for me relatively not over performingThose #management #memes?!
#lmao #bbh #mgmt
A way back machine thingy would be great: processing the chain data to calculating and visualizing the accounts evolution https://inleo.io/threads/view/tonyz/re-leothreads-n9z9y38d
Not every post will achieve viral status, but that doesn't imply that every post lacks significance.
1/3🧵 #threadstorm
Every one in this world comes with some quality or ability in them, some are good in sports, some are good in sports, some are good learner, some are good dancer or singer etc. No body is perfect or is good in all aspect. When we were kids many time we received comments like - that kid is good in study and why you are not try to be study like him. Every one has its own quality and when we start compare someone's quality with someone other like we witnesses many time in our childhood, that create the pressure on us.
#outreach #peerpressure #pressure
2/3🧵
.
When we talked about the peer pressure then the first impression we all have is the negative but its not that outcome of the peer pressure is always negative, in many cases it create the positive effect also.
3/3🧵
Check my latest post where I shared my views on same.
#gosh
https://inleo.io/@guurry123/peer-pressure-a-pathway-to-personal-improvement-3zq
Feliz domingo comunidad, que sea un gran día para todos y que cada una de sus actividades salgan bien, logren descansar y pasar un buen tiempo en familia. Éxitos.
#spanish
https://inleo.io/threads/view/kenahjoseph/re-leothreads-fuk63ktu
Welcome to inleo
$HIVE GOOD DEAL TO BUY
Over the past week, XRP has lost more than 8% of its value, effectively erasing all recent gains. Experts believe that if the current support levels hold, there could be potential for recovery and the initiation of a new upward trend.