Today, do what others won’t.
Tomorrow, do what others can’t.
Why Doesn’t the News Media Talk About the Real Issues in Life?
Looking at why the media seems increasingly to be talking to itself and not ordinary people.
Who blocks whom on Bluesky
Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social – Here is a great site to see who blocks you, who you block and what lists you are on. clearsky.app
A spectre is haunting LA - and the rest of the fragile world—the spectre of Octavia Butler’s wildfires predictions
Eerie 90s books ‘predicted LA wildfires’ and politician who vowed ‘make America great again’
A butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the future Associated Press
The dill of a lifetime? In a nation that’s enduring its own sour patch, the pickle dominated 2024 Associated Press
Volcanic Activity Beneath Yellowstone’s Massive Caldera Could Be on The Move ScienceAlert
Chemistry textbooks need rewriting after new Cardiff University discovery Nation Cymru From December, still germane
Siri “unintentionally” recorded private convos; Apple agrees to pay $95M
Ars Technica: “Apple has agreed (PDF) to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its voice assistant Siri routinely recorded private conversations that were then sold to third parties for targeted ads. In the proposed class-action settlement (PDF) — which comes after five years of litigation — Apple admitted to no wrongdoing. Instead, the settlement refers to “unintentional” Siri activations that occurred after the “Hey, Siri” feature was introduced in 2014, where recordings were apparently prompted without users ever saying the trigger words, “Hey, Siri.”
Sometimes Siri would be inadvertently activated, a whistleblower told The Guardian, when an Apple Watch was raised and speech was detected. The only clue that users seemingly had of Siri’s alleged spying was eerily accurate targeted ads that appeared after they had just been talking about specific items like Air Jordans or brands like Olive Garden, Reuters noted.
It’s currently unknown how many customers were affected, but if the settlement is approved, the tech giant has offered up to $20 per Siri-enabled device for any customers who made purchases between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. That includes iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, HomePods, iPod touches, and Apple TVs, the settlement agreement noted. Each customer can submit claims for up to five devices.”
Inside Pinterest’s quest to restore internet optimism
Fast Company – “Most social media platforms have devolved into a network of bottom-feeders and rage-baiters. Yet somehow, Pinterest has kept its joy. According to Sprout Social’s 2024 content strategy report, more than half of social users think of Pinterest as “more positive” than other platforms. When Bill Ready became Pinterest’s CEO in 2022, he shared his vision for a kinder, more upbeat social network. His plan seems to be working—and it’s keeping advertisers happy, too…
“A key difference between Pinterest and other platforms is that we do not optimize for time spent, but rather time spent well—time spent on joyful, inspiring experiences,” Ready writes. “We’re betting on hope, not hatred as the driver of engagement on Pinterest.” Pinterest’s lighthearted outlook also happens to be a boon for advertisers.
Research shows that when consumers are in a positive mood they’re more likely to see the value of a purchase. If Pinterest makes its users happy, they could be more willing to buy. Better yet, social users are open to increased advertising on the app. Per Sprout Social’s report, a quarter of respondents wanted more brands to use the platform…”