Archive link: Green MP Tamatha Paul on living with lupus and arthritis while serving in Parliament

Pretty inspiring that she’s achieved so much despite her chronic health conditions. It’s also refreshing to see honesty about needing to properly rest to avoid burnout. Too often we see gung-ho statements from people about pushing through and remaining busy.

Green MP Tamatha Paul on living with lupus and arthritis while serving in Parliament

The 28-year-old politician on living with invisible disabilities.

^{Varsha Anjali (The New Zealand Herald)}

And for decades, the Environmental Protection Agency tracked those emissions not by monitoring the air but by relying on a kind of honor system. Companies were allowed to estimate their chemical pollution using methods that even the EPA conceded were often unreliable.

In 2023, the EPA received irrefutable proof that these estimates were highly flawed. The agency had required 20 industrial facilities to temporarily install air monitors around their perimeters — known as fence-line monitoring — to see how bad the pollution actually was.

The results, compiled now for the first time by ProPublica, were shocking.

Air Pollution From Industrial Facilities Is Far Worse Than Estimated. Trump Halted Efforts to Fix It.

The Trump administration has put a stop to EPA rules that would have required more than 130 industrial facilities to install air monitors to measure pollution. Millions of people living near these plants face an increased risk of cancer.

^{andrea.wise@propublica.org (ProPublica)}

In città è appena apparsa una nuova ragazza che si fa chiamare Wrist Cut Warrior, ma che ha un particolare insolito...

stuff.octt.eu.org/2025/10/wris…

The Social Web Foundation is pleased to announce the Social Web Devroom at FOSDEM 2026, and invite participants to submit proposals for talks for the event.

FOSDEM is an exciting free and open source software event in Brussels, Belgium that brings together thousands of enthusiasts from around the world. The event spans the weekend of January 31 to February 1, 2026 and features discussion tracks (“devrooms”) for scores of different technology topics.

The Social Web Devroom will take place in the afternoon of Saturday, January 31.

Format

There will be three available talk formats:

• 50 minutes – for bigger projects, followed by 10 minutes of questions.
• 25 minutes – for bigger projects, followed by 5 minutes of questions.
• 8 minutes – micro-talks on smaller or newer projects, in groups of 3, followed by 6 minutes of combined questions for the group.

Topics

The Social Web Devroom is open to talks all about the Social Web AKA the Fediverse, including:

• Implementations of the ActivityPub protocol or ActivityPub API
• Clients for ActivityPub-enabled software like Mastodon
• Supporting services for the Fediverse, like search or onboarding
• ActivityPub-related libraries, toolkits, and frameworks
• Tools, bots, platforms, and related topics
• Advocacy, organization and social activity in deploying Open Source ActivityPub applications

Important dates

• Submission open: 1 Nov 2025
• Submission deadline: 1 Dec 2025
• Acceptance notifications: 10 Dec 2025
• Final schedule announcement: 15 Dec 2025
• Devroom: 31 Jan 2026

Submissions

Submit talk proposals to pretalx.fosdem.org/fosdem-2026…. Select “Social Web” from the “Track” dropdown, and include the length of your talk (8/25/50) in the submission notes. (Note that the “Lightning Talks” track is a separate event-wide track; if you’re proposing a Social Web micro-talk, please choose the “Social Web” track!)

Code of Conduct

All attendees and speakers must be familiar with and agree to the FOSDEM Code of Conduct.

Contact

Questions about topics, formats, or the Social Web in general should go to contact@socialwebfoundation.org.

Social Web Foundation

Towards a bigger, better fediverse

^{Social Web Foundation}

Routers are about to get a whole lot more expensive.

https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/routers/tp-link-routers-face-potential-u-s-ban-over-alleged-china-related-national-security-concerns-company-vigorously-disputes-department-of-commerces-findings

Taiwan's proposed new law would make damaging its undersea cables more expensive.

Archived version: archive.is/newest/tomshardware…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

AMD's AI-focused Ryzen AI Max APUs have redefined what integrated GPUs are capable of, even in gaming.

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/strix-halo-radeon-8060s-benchmarked-in-games-delivers-butter-smooth-1080p-performance-ryzen-ai-max-395-apu-is-a-pretty-solid-gaming-offering

Bolt talks the software behind its upcoming GPU; AI not mentioned once

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/bolt-graphics-brings-its-risc-v-graphics-cards-to-ubuntu-summit-zeus-path-tracing-gpus-target-film-and-animation-industry

The Windows 'full screen experience' could be so much better if it copied the Steam Deck.

The Best 'Xbox' Handheld Experience Ignores Xbox Altogether

^{Kyle Barr (Gizmodo)}

More monetization is on the way, including cuts to free AI video allowances.

Sora now lets you pay extra to make more AI videos

^{Robert Hart (The Verge)}

Tinkerer explains this was ‘a fun proof of concept’ but hints work may be done to make it usable for retro enthusiasts.

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/veteran-windows-insider-creates-windows-7-install-measuring-just-69mb-in-size-system-boots-but-has-been-pruned-so-severely-virtually-nothing-can-run-for-now

A legal wrangle over alleged copyright infringement between Universal Music and AI firm Udio has ended with a settlement and a new partnership for a platform to make AI music more accessible to everyday users.

Universal Music Group and AI music firm Udio settle lawsuit and announce new music platform

^{Sarah Miansoni (Euronews.com)}

A spokesperson for the California pension system said it would "further concentrate power in a single shareholder.”

Key Tesla Investor Says It Will Be Voting Against Making Elon Musk a Trillionaire

^{Lucas Ropek (Gizmodo)}

Creating a sonic vocabulary for the fantasy hit was a challenge for sound designer Michael Babcock.

Making KPop Demon Hunters sound magical meant finding the right harmonies

^{Charles Pulliam-Moore (The Verge)}

Recordings and on-demand content is also impacted.

ESPN, ABC, and other Disney channels go dark on YouTube TV

More than 20 Disney-owned channels have been pulled from YouTube TV after Google and Disney failed to reach a new content distribution agreement.

^{Jess Weatherbed (The Verge)}

Prusa channels Steve Jobs for new launch.

https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/prusa-launches-two-new-3d-printers-open-source-filament-tags-and-printable-silicone-at-private-event

Apple and Amazon are also rumored to be interested in WBD.

Netflix is reportedly looking into a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Netflix is considering a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business, according to a report from Reuters.

^{Emma Roth (The Verge)}

"Maintenance mode" might be a bit more than just maintenance, AMD tells Tom's Hardware.

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpu-drivers/amd-clarifies-that-rdna-1-and-2-will-still-get-day-zero-game-support-and-driver-updates-discrete-gpus-and-handhelds-will-still-work-with-future-games

The once fearsome process killer is now a leaker of resources

Microsoft Task Manager now tasking PCs with running multiple copies of itself

: The once fearsome process killer is now a leaker of resources

^{Richard Speed (The Register)}

0.3.1d Patch Notes

• Added support for Path of Exile's 3.27.0 launch.
• Added support for Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame Twitch drops, Challenge Rewards, and Vault Pass microtransactions.

Downtime should be approximately 15-30 minutes, apologies for any inconvenience.

Early Access Patch Notes - 0.3.1.d Patch Notes - Forum - Path of Exile

Path of Exile is a free online-only action RPG under development by Grinding Gear Games in New Zealand.

^{Path of Exile}

Over 26 million people in the DRC urgently need food aid due to a worsening crisis

Archived version: archive.is/newest/africa.busin…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

UN says Congo needs half a billion dollars as 26 million face severe hunger

Over 26 million people in the DRC urgently need food aid due to a worsening crisis.

^{Business Insider Africa}

Two North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine, captured while fighting for Russia and detained since early 2025, have pleaded with a visiting documentary producer to bring them to South Korea, an activist said Friday.

Archived version: archive.is/newest/koreajoongan…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

Captured North Korean war prisoners in Ukraine ask to be brought to South Korea

^{Korea JoongAng Daily}

Drones struck key energy facilities across Russia, hitting the Orel thermal power plant and leaving much of the city without heat as temperatures dropped to 5°C.

Archived version: archive.is/newest/kyivpost.com…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

Russian City of Orel Loses Heat After Drone Strike on Power Plant

^{Julia Struck (Kyiv Post)}

According to the officials who spoke to Reuters, Russia attacked Ukraine with the missile 23 over August 2025 alone, as well as on several occasions in 2022.

Archived version: archive.is/newest/kyivindepend…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

New missile that pushed Trump to leave nuclear treaty fired by Russia at Ukraine, Reuters reports

^{Francis Farrell (The Kyiv Independent)}

The United States has signed a 10-year defence framework agreement with India, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday.

Archived version: archive.is/20251031051904/reut…

Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

archive.ph/wip/7kgpn

Oct. 31, 2025, 5:02 a.m. ET
Michelle Goldberg

Andy O’Brien, a former Democratic state legislator and newspaper editor, told me that outsiders didn’t fully understand how radicalizing the second Trump presidency has been for ordinary Democrats. Even senior citizens, he said, were becoming “fire-breathing leftists. They’re just pissed off.”

These voters understood that Platner had made mistakes, but they saw him as a fighter. “Five years ago, he would have been dead in the water, I think,” said O’Brien, who now works with the labor movement. “But this is such an unprecedented time. I think a lot of people really believe that we need somebody who can effectively fight against fascism.”

Maine is an overwhelmingly white state, but it’s not just white guys who feel this way. “We’re sticking by him,” said Safiya Khalid, a Somali American activist and former member of the Lewiston City Council.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/opinion/graham-platner-democrats.html

cross-posted from: lemmy.ml/post/38323356

archive.ph/wip/7kgpn

Oct. 31, 2025, 5:02 a.m. ET
Michelle Goldberg

Andy O’Brien, a former Democratic state legislator and newspaper editor, told me that outsiders didn’t fully understand how radicalizing the second Trump presidency has been for ordinary Democrats. Even senior citizens, he said, were becoming “fire-breathing leftists. They’re just pissed off.”

These voters understood that Platner had made mistakes, but they saw him as a fighter. “Five years ago, he would have been dead in the water, I think,” said O’Brien, who now works with the labor movement. “But this is such an unprecedented time. I think a lot of people really believe that we need somebody who can effectively fight against fascism.”

Maine is an overwhelmingly white state, but it’s not just white guys who feel this way. “We’re sticking by him,” said Safiya Khalid, a Somali American activist and former member of the Lewiston City Council.

Peter Link

2025-10-31 16:23:40

I Thought Graham Platner Was Finished. What I Saw in Maine Changed My Mind.

archive.ph/wip/7kgpn

Oct. 31, 2025, 5:02 a.m. ET
Michelle Goldberg

Andy O’Brien, a former Democratic state legislator and newspaper editor, told me that outsiders didn’t fully understand how radicalizing the second Trump presidency has been for ordinary Democrats. Even senior citizens, he said, were becoming “fire-breathing leftists. They’re just pissed off.”

These voters understood that Platner had made mistakes, but they saw him as a fighter. “Five years ago, he would have been dead in the water, I think,” said O’Brien, who now works with the labor movement. “But this is such an unprecedented time. I think a lot of people really believe that we need somebody who can effectively fight against fascism.”

Maine is an overwhelmingly white state, but it’s not just white guys who feel this way. “We’re sticking by him,” said Safiya Khalid, a Somali American activist and former member of the Lewiston City Council.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/opinion/graham-platner-democrats.html

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chinese-hackers-exploit-windows-zero-day-to-spy-on-european-diplomats/

Si chiamava Rosa Predavalle, genovese, la prima italiana a ottenere un brevetto. Era il 1861 e l'Armonitone, un “pianoforte con sordina” pensato per suonare in modo più controllato, è l'invenzione che porta la sua firma. La creatività femminile emerge da una ricerca di Marco Martinez, docente di Storia economica all'Università di Pisa, pubblicata sulla rivista internazionale Business History.
La ricerca di Marco Martinez, docente di Storia economica all'Università di Pisa, ha permesso di identificare questo e altri brevetti femminili tra il 1861 e il 1939, evidenziando un contributo significativo delle donne allo sviluppo tecnologico italiano

ilsole24ore.com/art/brevetti-i…

Brevetti italiani, primo censimento al femminile

Si chiamava Rosa Predavalle, genovese, la prima italiana a ottenere un brevetto. Era il 1861 e l'Armonitone, un “pianoforte con sordina” pensato per ...

^{Il Sole 24 Ore (Il Sole 24 ORE)}

I am haunted by a pregnant bill in Andrew Cuomo’s new AI-generated attack ad against Zohran Mamdani.

Cuomo posted the ad on his X account that riffed on the famous Schoolhouse Rock! song “I’m just a bill.” In Cuomo’s AI-generated cartoon nightmare, Zohran Mamdani lights money on fire while a phone bearing the ChatGPT logo explains, apparently, that Mamdani is not qualified.

The ad bears all the hallmarks of the sloppiest of AI trash: weird artifacting, strange voices that don’t sync with the mouths talking, and inconsistent animation. It feels both surreal and of the moment and completely ancient.

404 Media

2025-10-30 19:25:28

Andrew Cuomo Uses AI MPREG Schoolhouse Rock Bill to Attack Mamdani, Is Out of Ideas

I am haunted by a pregnant bill in Andrew Cuomo’s new AI-generated attack ad against Zohran Mamdani.

Cuomo posted the ad on his X account that riffed on the famous Schoolhouse Rock! song “I’m just a bill.” In Cuomo’s AI-generated cartoon nightmare, Zohran Mamdani lights money on fire while a phone bearing the ChatGPT logo explains, apparently, that Mamdani is not qualified.

The ad bears all the hallmarks of the sloppiest of AI trash: weird artifacting, strange voices that don’t sync with the mouths talking, and inconsistent animation. It feels both surreal and of the moment and completely ancient.

🎶“I’m Just A Shill” (FT. Zohran) pic.twitter.com/ga3JxnYO7B
— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) October 30, 2025

And then there’s the pregnant bill.

The Schoolhouse Rock! Bill is an iconic cartoon character that has been parodied by everyone from The Simpsons to Saturday Night Live. There are thousands, perhaps millions, of pictures of the cartoon bill online, all available to be gobbled up by scrapers and turned into training data for AI.

For some reason, the bill in Cuomo’s ad has thick red lips (notably absent in the original) and appears to be pregnant. Adding to the discordant AI jank of the image, the pregnancy is only visible when the bill is standing up. Sometimes it’s leaning against the steps and in those shots it has the slim figure characteristic of its inspiration. But when the bill stands it looks positively inflated, almost as if the video generator used to make Cuomo’s ad was trained on MPREG fetish art of the bill and not the original cartoon itself. The thick and luscious red lips are present whether the bill is leaning or standing.

Towards the end of the ad, an anthropomorphic phone with a ChatGPT logo wanders into the scene. Standing next to the pregnant bill, I could not but help but think that the phone is the father of whatever child the bill carried.

My observation led to an argument in the 404 Media Slack channel and opinions were split. “It does not seem pregnant to me,” said Emanuel Maiberg.

Jason Koebler, however, came to my defense. He circled the pregnant belly of the cartoon bill and shared it. “Baby is stored in the circle area,” he said.

Perplexed by all this, I reached out to Cuomo’s campaign for an explanation. I wanted a response to the ad and to get his thoughts on AI-generated political content. More importantly, I needed to know their opinion on the pregnancy. “Does that bill look pregnant to you?” I asked. “I think it looks pregnant, but my editors are split. I would love for the Campaign to weigh in.” Out of journalist due diligence, I also reached out to Mamdani’s press office. Neither campaign has responded to my request for it to weigh in on the pregnancy of the AI-generated cartoon bill.

This is not the first time the Cuomo campaign has used AI. An ad in early October featured a deepfaked Cuomo working as a train operator, stock trader, and a stagehand. A week ago, the Cuomo campaign released a long, racist video depicting criminals endorsing Mamdani. Critics called the ad racist. The campaign deleted it shortly after it was posted and blamed the whole thing on a junior staffer.

It is worth noting that Cuomo's AI slop is being deployed most likely because the candidate has been utterly incapable of generating any authentic excitement about his campaign in New York City or on the internet, and he is facing a digitally native, younger candidate who just seems effortlessly Good At the Internet and Posting.

This is, unfortunately, how a lot of politics works in 2025. Desperate campaigns and desperate presidents are in a slop-fueled arms race to make the most ridiculous possible ads and social media content. It looks cheap, is cheap, and is the realm of politicians who are totally out of ideas, but increasingly it feels like slop is the dominant aesthetic of our time.

AI-generated imagery takes New York politics by storm

Andrew Cuomo's AI campaign ad sparked criticism.

^{Bobby Cuza (Spectrum News NY1)}

Google announced the end of support for early Nest Thermostats in a support document earlier this year that largely flew under the radar. As of October 25, first and second generation units released in 2011 and 2012, respectively, will be unpaired and removed from the Google Nest or Google Home app.

Users will no longer be able to control their thermostats remotely via their smartphone, receive notifications, or change settings from a mobile device. End-of-support also disables third-party assistants and other cloud-based features including multi-device Eco mode and Nest Protect connectivity.

https://www.techspot.com/news/110075-google-pulls-plug-first-second-gen-nest-thermostats.html

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to setup a local "vibe coding" environment and use it on some projects I abandoned years ago.
So far I'm using KoboldCPP to run the models, VSStudio as editor with various extensions and models with limited to no luck.

Models are working properly (tested with KoboldCPP web UI and curl) but in VSCode they do not generate files. edit existing files etc. (it seems that the tool calling part is not working) and they usually go in a loop

I tried the following extensions:
- RooCode
- Cline

Models: (mostly from Unsloth)
- Deepseek-coder:6.7
- Phi4
- Qwen3-Coder 30
- Granite4 Small

Does anyone have any idea why it's not working or have a working setup that can share? (I'm open to change any of the tools/models)

I have 16GB of RAM and 8GB of VRAM as a reference

Many thanks in advance for your help!