#tech #Internet #IA #bourse finance #Apple #Alphabet #Microsoft #Nvidia #Google
Les géants technos trop gros, des investisseurs s’inquiètent
La concentration jamais vue dans une poignée d’actions technologiques suscite l’inquiétude à Wall Street.La Presse
China issues guideline to deepen AI Plus integration across key sectors
China released a guideline on deepening the implementation of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plus initiative on Tuesday, setting out a framework to integrate AI into key sectors to foster the development of new quality productive forces.CGTN
@rf
СИЛКСОНГ СЕЙЧАС 
Всего за 710₽.
store.steampowered.com/app/103…
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На заметку: в ближайшее время любой контент по игре желательно ставить под спойлер / Content Warning, чтобы никому не испортить впечатления от игры.
#RespectCyclists #Fahrraddemo 09/2025
2. #Lastenradlaufsteg
Schaut Euch die ganzen Lastenräder an!
Vielen Dank für die Teilnahme!
Nächste #RespectCyclists - Demo:
1.10.2025 #Lightride
Treffen ab 17:30 Uhr am Falkplatz, Abfahrt um 18:15 Uhr
@ADFC_Berlin @CCitiesOrg
@mastobikes @mastobikes_de @mastobikes_berlin
@fedibikes @fedibikes_de
@fedibikes_berlin #Cargobike #Lastenrad #Fahrradanhänger #Berlin #v99
La settima onda / Nomadi
#fediradio #np #mastoradio
#nowar #nowarZ #peaceNOW
inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=gApGvI-…
youtube.com/watch?v=gApGvI-TeY…
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.www.youtube.com
Dalla poltrona al biomedicale: la scommessa di Cubo Rosso sull’innovazione
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/dalla-poltrona-biomedicale-scommessa-cubo-rosso-sull-innovazione-AHSSiSSC?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Pubblicato su Economia - Il Sole 24 ORE @economia-il-sole-24-ore-IlSole24Ore
Dalla poltrona al biomedicale: la scommessa di Cubo Rosso sull’innovazione
Per il salottificio di Gravina progetto frutto di tre anni di ricerca con Cetma e Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli di Bologna, cofinanziato dalla Regione PugliaIl Sole 24 Ore (Il Sole 24 ORE)
Giulia Bernardi al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «Per quanto possiamo essere diversi, siamo tutti esseri umani»
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/it/lifestyle/a65977035/cosmopolitan-venezia-intervista-giulia-bernardi-2025/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Pubblicato su Lifestyle @lifestyle-CosmopolitanIta
Giulia Bernardi al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «Per quanto possiamo essere diversi, siamo tutti esseri umani»
Influencer, content creator e host, la pop culture è pane quotidiano per lei, e tra trend e riflessioni a cuore aperto, è arrivata anche al The Reef, sulla spiaggia dell’hotel Des Bains, per conversare con Cecilia Alba Luè, Head of Multimedia Content…Redazione Cosmopolitan Italia (Cosmopolitan)
Das Video zeigt eine graue Katze mit dichtem Fell, die auf einem grünen Rasen mit heruntergefallenen Blättern liegt. Die Katze dreht sich um und rollt sich auf den Rücken, um sich zu entspannen. Ein menschlicher Fuß erscheint im Bild und beginnt, die Katze sanft zu kraulen. Die Katze genießt die Berührung und schließt die Augen, während sie sich weiterhin entspannt. Der menschliche Fuß streichelt die Katze weiter, und sie bleibt ruhig und zufrieden. Der Hintergrund bleibt ein grüner Rasen mit heruntergefallenen Blättern, und die Katze bleibt in der gleichen Position, während sie von der Hand gestreichelt wird.
Bereitgestellt von @altbot, privat und lokal generiert mit Ovis2-8B
🌱 Energieverbrauch: 0.410 Wh
Luca Vergoni al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «Speriamo che il cinema come opera d'arte possa rinascere»
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/it/lifestyle/a65968770/cosmopolitan-venezia-intervista-luca-vergoni-2025/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Pubblicato su Lifestyle @lifestyle-CosmopolitanIta
Luca Vergoni al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «Speriamo che il cinema come opera d'arte possa rinascere»
L’attore interpreta il protagonista del noto mito greco, che ne conserva il nome nel film Orfeo, e racconta di come è entrato nella parte e dei progetti che ha in serbo per il futuro a Martina Mozzati, Deputy Editor-in-Chief di Cosmopolitan, al The R…Redazione Cosmopolitan Italia (Cosmopolitan)
¡Reportaje de CHV reveló quiénes son los bots de Kast!
¡Director de CANAL 13 involucrado!
youtube.com/watch?v=6osdWnC_S5…
por #TURNOAM
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.www.youtube.com
ilfattoquotidiano.it/2025/09/0…
È morto Giorgio Armani, aveva 91 anni: “Infaticabile, ha lavorato fino agli ultimi giorni”
La camera ardente sarà allestita a partire da sabato 6 settembre e sarà visitabile fino a domenica 7 settembre. I funerali si svolgeranno in forma privataIl Fatto Quotidiano
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Michelangelo Vizzini al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «Se mi chiedessi di scegliere tra musica e cinema sceglierei di non scegliere»
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/it/lifestyle/a65968895/cosmopolitan-venezia-intervista-michelangelo-vizzini-2025/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Pubblicato su Lifestyle @lifestyle-CosmopolitanIta
Michelangelo Vizzini al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «Se mi chiedessi di scegliere tra musica e cinema sceglierei di non scegliere»
Tra cinema, musica e TikTok, l’attore presenta alla Mostra la serie The Creatives, e dialoga con Cecilia Alba Luè, Head of Multimedia Content di Cosmopolitan, al The Reef, sulla spiaggia dell'hotel Des Bains, della popolarità sui social e dei suoi pr…Redazione Cosmopolitan Italia (Cosmopolitan)
Marco Bonadei al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «I sogni acquisiti ci portano lontano da quello che siamo»
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/it/lifestyle/a65977112/cosmopolitan-venezia-intervista-marco-bonadei-2025/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Pubblicato su Lifestyle @lifestyle-CosmopolitanIta
Marco Bonadei al Dopocinema di Venezia 2025: «I sogni acquisiti ci portano lontano da quello che siamo»
L’attore, che vive immerso tra cinema e teatro, è alla Mostra del Cinema per l’anteprima de Il rapimento di Arabella, film di Carolina Cavalli.Redazione Cosmopolitan Italia (Cosmopolitan)
Le vedo girare da un po', ma solo ora m'è venuta voglia di scoprire (cioè: ci ho sbattuto il naso sopra) come si creano le immagini delle statistiche di ascolto su listenbrainz, e quindi mo vi rifilo l'immaginina dei primi cinque ascolti di agosto: «New Radiations» di Marissa Nadler, «Very Human Features» dei Bug Club, «Gravity Zero» dei Vibravoid, «Abomination Revealed at Last» degli Osees e «Sunshine and Balance Beams» dei Pile
Rapita dagli alieni reshared this.
Musixmatch (che forse toglierò) è una app android, lo uso perché ha lo "shazam" (riconoscitore canzoni) integrato con testi sincronizzati.
Plexamp è il player audio di Plex, la libreria multimediale privata da cui puoi fare streaming.
E’ morto Giorgio Armani, principe del gusto e della moda
La notizia della morte in un comunicato del gruppo [....]
scandianonotizie.it/copertina-…
E’ morto Giorgio Armani, principe del gusto e della moda
La notizia della morte in un comunicato del gruppo [….]Scandianonotizie.it
schade dass es im raucherbereich am bahnhof keine steckdosen gibt
würde gerne löten aber weiß nicht wo
Pronti per l'eclissi di Luna di domenica? Si va in prima serata, per uno spettacolo che promette d'essere veramente "cosmico"
stardust.blog/2025/09/eclissi-…
Eclissi di Luna, domenica in prima serata!
Pronti per l’eclissi di Luna di domenica? Si va in prima serata, per uno spettacolo che promette d’essere veramente “cosmico”Stardust
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Bruce Springsteen, ‘Electric Nebraska’ uscirà il 17 ottobre | Rolling Stone Italia
rollingstone.it/musica/news-mu…
> La mitizzata versione elettrica dell’album è uno dei contenuti del cofanetto ‘Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition’. C’è anche una nuova esecuzione live di tutto il disco. Ecco intanto la versione in trio inedita di ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ incisa nell’aprile 1982
Il Burkina Faso ha approvato una legge che punisce l’omosessualità con pene dai 2 ai 5 anni di carcere
Votata all'umanità dai 71 membri non eletti del parlamento che governa il Burkina Faso dopo i due colpi di stato del 2022, una nuova legge omofoba criminalizzarà l'omosessualità.Gayburg
Nicola Pizzamiglio likes this.
Gazzetta del Cadavere reshared this.
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New from 404 Media: Congress demanding answers on ICE's new facial recognition app 'Mobile Fortify'. App taps into an unprecedented no. databases, uses the same system as when people enter/exit the U.S. Now turned inwards. Directly in response to us revealing the app 404media.co/congress-pushes-dh…
Congress Pushes DHS for Details on ICE’s New Facial Recognition App
Members of a congressional committee have demanded Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for more information about Mobile Fortify, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) new facial recognition app, which taps into an unprecedented array of government databases and uses a system ordinarily reserved for when people enter or exit the U.S. 404 Media first revealed the app in June.The Democratic lawmakers, Bennie G. Thompson, J. Luis Correa, and Shri Thanedar, are asking Noem a host of questions about the app, including what databases Mobile Fortify searches, the tool’s accuracy, and ICE’s legal basis for using the app to identify people outside of ports of entry, including U.S. citizens.
“Congress has long had concerns with the Federal government’s use of facial recognition technology and has regularly conducted oversight of how DHS utilizes this technology. The Mobile Fortify application has been deployed to the field while still in beta testing, which raises concerns about its accuracy,” the letter from the Committee on Homeland Security and addressed to Noem reads.
💡
Do you know anything else about this app? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at joseph.404 or send me an email at joseph@404media.co.404 Media first revealed Mobile Fortify’s existence through leaked emails. Those emails showed that ICE officers could use the app to identify someone based on their fingerprints or face by just pointing a smartphone camera at them. The underlying Customs and Border Protection (CBP) system for the facial recognition part of the app is ordinarily used when people enter or leave the U.S. With Mobile Fortify, ICE then turned that capability inwards to identify people away from ports of entry.
In the footnotes of the letter, the lawmakers indicate they have a copy of a similar email, and the letter specifically cites 404 Media’s reporting.
In July 404 Media published a second report based on a Mobile Fortify user manual which explained the app’s capabilities and data sources in more detail. It said that Mobile Fortify uses a bank of 200 million images, and can pull up a subject’s name, nationality, date of birth, “alien” number, and whether a judge has marked them for deportation. It also showed that Mobile Fortify links databases from the State Department, CBP, the FBI, and states into a single tool. A “super query” feature lets ICE officers query multiple databases at once regarding “individuals, vehicles, airplanes, vessels, addresses, phone numbers and firearms.”
“Face recognition technology is notoriously unreliable, frequently generating false matches and resulting in a number of known wrongful arrests across the country. Immigration agents relying on this technology to try to identify people on the street is a recipe for disaster. Congress has never authorized DHS to use face recognition technology in this way, and the agency should shut this dangerous experiment down,” Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, previously told 404 Media.
In their letter the lawmakers ask Noem questions about the app’s legality, including ICE’s legal basis to use the app to conduct biometric searches on people outside ports of entry; the databases Mobile Fortify has access to; any agreements between CBP and ICE about the app; information about the usage of the app, such as the frequency of ICE searches using the tool and what procedures ICE officials follow with the app; the app’s accuracy; and any policies or training to ICE agents on how to use the app.
“To ensure ICE is equipped with technology that is accurate and in compliance with constitutional and legal requirements, the Committee on Homeland Security is conducting oversight of ICE’s deployment of the Mobile Fortify application,” the letter says.
CBP acknowledged a request for comment but did not provide a response in time for publication. ICE did not respond to a request for comment.
You can find a copy of the letter here.
Inside ICE’s Supercharged Facial Recognition App of 200 Million Images
404 Media has seen user manuals for Mobile Fortify, ICE’s new facial recognition app which allows officers to instantly look up DHS, State Department, and state law enforcement databases by just pointing a phone at someone’s face.Joseph Cox (404 Media)
YO: Ya que DDG está metiendo tanta IA, debería irme a Ecosia.
Ecosia. PRUEBA NUESTRA IAI!!!!
Ya en serio. no puedo moverme de DDG hasta que alguien mas tenga bangs
duckduckgo.com/bangs
sí pagué el profesional/ilimitado por un año. Lo que vi ahora que estaba leyendo sobre los bangs, es que los bangs no cuentan como búsquedas pagadas, pero 300 no son muchas la verdad.
Y desafortunadamente Kagi tiene AI, pero no lo usa o te lo muestra a menos que lo habilites manualmente.
Con su mismo pantalón, con sus mismos tenis, con sus mismos calzones."
Our top story: I studied water. I studied rivers and tributaries and floodplains and watersheds. But theory is one thing, and seeing 100-year-old cypress trees laying flat on the ground, completely uprooted, is another.
texasobserver.org/where-the-wa…
#ClimateChange
Photos: Where the Water Reached
One photographer’s view of the July 4th Hill Country flood, the state’s deadliest in more than a centuryBrenda Bazán (The Texas Observer)
Von X zu Mastodon und Bluesky: Warum der Wechsel sinnvoll ist
Immer mehr Unternehmen und Organisationen stellen sich die Frage: Sollten wir unsere Kommunikation weiterhin von zentralisierten Plattformen wie X abhängig machen – oder ist es an der Zeit, die Kontrolle zurückzugewinnen?
Die Probleme zentralisierter Plattformen
1. Algorithmische Macht
X (ehemals Twitter) steuert, welche Inhalte sichtbar sind – und welche nicht. Algorithmen entscheiden, welche Beiträge in den Feeds landen. Dadurch erhalten Nutzer:innen nicht mehr automatisch die Inhalte, denen sie eigentlich folgen wollten. Stattdessen werden Trends, Werbekunden oder politisch „passende“ Inhalte bevorzugt.
Das bedeutet: eine enorme Machtkonzentration bei einer einzelnen Firma, die faktisch zum Gatekeeper globaler Kommunikation wird.
2. Zensur & Manipulation
Zentralisierte Plattformen haben die Möglichkeit, Inhalte gezielt zu blockieren, zu verschieben oder unauffällig in der Reichweite einzuschränken („Shadowbanning“). Damit können ganze Bewegungen, Unternehmen oder Meinungen unsichtbar gemacht werden – unabhängig davon, ob sie gegen Gesetze verstoßen oder nicht.
Für demokratische Gesellschaften und Organisationen bedeutet das eine ernsthafte Gefahr für Meinungsvielfalt.
3. Kostenfalle durch Werbung
Wer auf X sichtbar sein will, muss in Werbung investieren.
Da die Algorithmen organische Reichweite künstlich begrenzen, sind Unternehmen gezwungen, Inhalte kostenpflichtig zu „pushen“.
Dies führt zu unfairen Zusatzkosten, die keinerlei Mehrwert in Bezug auf Unabhängigkeit oder Transparenz schaffen.
4. Reputationsrisiko durch fehlende Moderation
Durch den Abbau von Moderation auf X steigt die Gefahr, dass Werbeanzeigen unmittelbar neben menschenverachtenden oder extremistischen Inhalten auftauchen.
Das führt nicht nur zu Imageschäden, sondern auch zu einem hohen Risiko für Markenreputation.
Viele große Werbekunden haben ihre Budgets daher bereits abgezogen – ein deutliches Signal für die wachsende Unsicherheit.
Mastodon, Bluesky und mehr – ein eigener Social Media Kosmos
Mit Mastodon und Bluesky stehen zwei leistungsfähige Open-Source-Alternativen für Kurznachrichten und Microblogging bereit. Doch Infinito.Nexus geht noch weiter:
- 🐘 Mastodon – Ersatz für X (Twitter)
- 🌌 Bluesky – moderne ATProto-Plattform für Microblogging
- 🎬 PeerTube – Ersatz für YouTube, mit voller Kontrolle über Videoinhalte
- 👥 Friendica – Alternative zu Facebook, für Netzwerke & Communities
- 📸 Pixelfed – Ersatz für Instagram, mit Fokus auf Bilder & Kreativität
- 🎶 Funkwhale – Alternative zu Spotify und SoundCloud, für Musik & Podcasts
Alle diese Dienste sind im Infinito.Nexus-Ökosystem integriert, vorkonfiguriert und über ein gemeinsames Login (SSO via Keycloak) erreichbar.
Damit entsteht ein vollständiges Social-Media-Universum, das Unternehmen, Organisationen, Verwaltungen oder ganze Communities unabhängig von Big Tech macht.
Was bietet InfinitoNexus konkret?
- Single Sign-On (SSO) via Keycloak für alle Dienste
- Zentrale Benutzer- und Rechteverwaltung über LDAP
- DSGVO-konforme Infrastruktur
- Einheitliches Branding & Analytics durch Matomo-Integration
- Deployment in <2 Stunden: Ein kompletter Social-Media-Kosmos steht sofort bereit
So können Unternehmen eigene Plattformen betreiben, die nicht nur sicher und unabhängig sind, sondern auch alle relevanten Social-Media-Funktionen abdecken – von Videos über Bilder, Musik bis hin zu Communities.
Einstieg
🔗 Mastodon Code: https://s.infinito.nexus/mastodoncode
🔗 Mastodon Demo: https://s.infinito.nexus/mastodon
🔗 Bluesky Code: https://s.infinito.nexus/blueskycode
🔗 Bluesky Demo: https://s.infinito.nexus/bluesky
👉 Damit ermöglicht Infinito.Nexus nicht nur den Umstieg von X, sondern den Aufbau eines ganzen Social-Media-Kosmos, der unabhängig, transparent und souverän betrieben werden kann.
infinito-nexus/roles/web-app-mastodon at master · kevinveenbirkenbach/infinito-nexus
Infinito.Nexus is a turnkey framework built on Docker, Ansible and ActivityPub for deploying a server with LDAP-based IAM and Keycloak SSO. Its unified interface lets you access infinite open-sourc...GitHub
New on my #blog: "Books Reviewed: August 2025"
itinerantlibrarian.wordpress.c…
My monthly wrap up of #books read and reviewed. It also includes couple of #cartomancy decks.
#reading #BookReview #reviews #AlchemicalThoughts #occult #cartomancy #divination #pagan #heathen #witch #esoterica #bookstodon 💙📚
@bookstodon@a.gup.pe
@bookstodon@fedigroups.social
Books Reviewed: August 2025
Welcome to my wrap up of books I reviewed in August 2025. Links go to the reviews over at The Itinerant Librarian. I reviewed the following books: Be More Vader. This book is a career advic…Alchemical Thoughts
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Banking expert predicts no significant fluctuations on FX market next week
The second week of September will not be anything extraordinary for the foreign exchange market. The exchange rate situation will not change significantly. — Ukrinform.Ukrinform
I'm reading BLOOD IN THE MACHINE (history of Luddites & rise of #AI) for a bookclub in #Pittsburgh! Super excited. We're tackling it in 2 sessions (9/11 and 10/9) & in Oct @bcmerchant.bsky.social will join us for Q&A!
If you're in #PGH join us at @staygoldbooks.bsky.social !
#booksky #bookclub
Sue is Writing Solarpunk 🌞🌱 reshared this.
Related: this brilliant piece from @anthonymoser.com is exactly how I feel about AI and have from the start.
"I am here to be rude, because this is a rude technology, and it deserves a rude response. Miyazaki said, “I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.” Scam Altman said we can surround the solar system with a Dyson Sphere to hold data centers. Miyazaki is right, and Altman is wrong."
anthonymoser.github.io/writing…
I Am An AI Hater
I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.moser’s frame shop
"Scam Altman said we can surround the solar system with a Dyson Sphere to hold data centers. Miyazaki is right, and Altman is wrong." @anthonymoser.com
This reminded me of my hatred of dyson spheres & space locusts so I resurrected a 2yo post & added to it: susankayequinn.com/2022/01/dys…
#AI
Dyson Spheres for Space Locusts
I’ve always thought Dyson spheres were the most absurd idea. What “civilization” would be so rapacious as to *enclose an entire star* to meet their “energy needs”. That’s not a sign of “advanced in…SUSAN KAYE QUINN
Round 1, FPO | 2025 Discraft Great Lakes Open presented by Gerrit J. Verburg Co youtube.com/watch?v=rg0yeAVwKj…
Live from our favorite park: Kensington!
#DiscGolf #live #Kensington #DGLO
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.www.youtube.com
,#Druskininkai,#cannonphotography,
#photo, #photography, #NemanoDruskininkai, #autumn,
T-Systems names new chief to reduce reliance on US tech companies
German tech giant appoints sovereignty officer as European businesses seek alternatives to American cloud providers amid rising data control concerns.Luis Rijo (PPC Land)
EuGH-Urteil: Polens Gerichte sollen höhere Instanz ignorieren
Der EuGH hat ein Urteil gefällt, das sich erheblich auf Polens Justiz auswirken dürfte. Nationale Gerichte müssen demnach Urteile einer höheren Instanz ignorieren, wenn diese Mindeststandards nicht erfüllt. Was bedeutet das? Von P. Żuk
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Das ist ein direktes Misstrauensvotum gegen die Instanzen.
Gibts das bald auch für Ungarn, Tschechien und gegen die deutsche Bundesregierung?
Microsoft shuts down the Community Forums
The Microsoft Community Forums has debuted since 2009 when Windows 7 was released. Since then, it has devolved to a colossal amount of “Run DISM and SFC” and other copy-pasted solutions that usually don’t solve the problem that users were facing. It became so overwhelming that there were internet memes being made specifically to target those answers. Of course, there was some solid advice, but the majority of the “answers” were expressing the same thing.
Now, Microsoft Answers has been shut down starting today, since all links to answers.microsoft.com now point to Microsoft Learn instead. Google and other search engines won’t be able to use those as a reference to solve the problems that users sometimes face in Windows.
Instead, users are advised to either ask the AI assistant or open a question and wait for others to answer the question. Hopefully, generic solutions like “Run DISM and SFC” or “Reset your PC” won’t be here again, unless they become absolutely necessary.
If you’re still uncomfortable about using the Microsoft Learn Q&A feature or the AI chatbot, you can refer to the computer forums, some of which we recommend.
- Bleeping Computer Forums
- Overclock Forums
- Eleven Forum (for Windows 11 users)
- Ten Forums (for Windows 10 users) and sibling forums…
- Tom’s Hardware Forums
Otherwise, you can ask a question here.
To learn more about the shutdown, read this blog article from Windows Latest.
#microsoft #news #Tech #Technology #update
So long, “run SFC”: Microsoft kills Microsoft Answers brand in favour of Microsoft Learn Q&A
Microsoft has retired the Windows Community forum and has moved all its contents into Microsoft Q&A, which works under Microsoft Learn domain.Abhijith M B (Windows Latest)
Russian missile strike hits demining humanitarian mission in Chernihiv, casualties reported – photo
On 4 September, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning of a ballistic missile threat from the north. Local authorities say a missile has struck near a checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Novoselivka in Chernihiv Oblast.Alona Mazurenko (Ukrainska Pravda)
The safest place for a child is Drag Queen Story Hour.
The most dangerous place for a child is church.
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My blood will spill on this land
31 August is Malaysia’s Independence Day. So it’s time for my annual reflections about being a Malaysian.
I like watching videos of tourists making videos of their trips to Kuala Lumpur. Apparently, it’s a very Malaysian thing to watch these videos.
youtube.com/watch?v=4ZlJOrgzrS…
(Though each time I watch these videos, I think: Seriously, guys? Do you think we live in mud huts or something? By the way, our modernity surprises only folks from the West. Folks from China usually say: “It’s not as advanced as we are, but it’s comfortable travelling there at least.”)
Some say it’s down to our insecurity as Malaysians, we just like to be reassured that we’re awesome, and these foreigners most assuredly would say something nice and complimentary about Malaysia.
For me, I probably have a bit of the latter and also this: I’ve been down and negative about Malaysia all my life, and it’s good to be reminded about the good things we have in the country that we take for granted.
While a lot of Americans believe in the exceptional qualities about their country, many Malaysians, especially non-Malaysians, view Malaysia in a negative, almost inferior light.
I grew up with the “Malaysia has no future” mantra espoused by so many that I felt that the only way I could have a future was to escape the country. I was 12 when I started having these thoughts.
When I was 19, I finally did “escape” when I received a scholarship to study in Australia. When I was there, a Malaysian chided me for “always speaking ill of Malaysia.”
But back then, I was hugely bitter about the fact that educational opportunities for me, as a Chinese Malaysian, were limited and I had to work so very hard to finish my degree. Many had to go overseas to get an education, and only the wealthy could do that. As someone from a middle-class family, that was a pipe dream.
In fact, I could only complete my degree due to sheer luck and fortune.
When the Asian financial crisis hit from 1997 to 1998, many of us could not even finish our degrees because of the skyrocketing exchange rates. And I nearly became one of them. Instead of transferring my diploma credits to an overseas university to finish my degree as I had planned, I decided to work instead.
But one day, I decided to apply for an Australian university on impulse, which I knew I could not afford. I thought, “At least it would satisfy me to be accepted.”
When I received the offer letter, it was bittersweet. I was qualified to finish my degree in Australia, but there was no way I could do it because the economic crisis had shrunk the value of the ringgit. What was barely affordable for my family before was now beyond my reach.
But then, the dean of my college told me that the university offered me a partial scholarship. I still remember the scream I let out in the office when I heard the news. The scholarship was enough to allow me to complete my degree, though my dad still had to fork out a large sum to enable me to do it. But it was no longer an impossible sum.
So, I worked in Australia to supplement my living expenses. I brought some money back to my dad, but it was a fraction of what he had slaved to save for me.
So, yeah, I don’t take my education for granted, and I had a lot of baggage when I was in Australia in 1999.
I could’ve joined the many students who stayed back in Australia to get a PR, but I didn’t.
Mostly because I was afraid of carving a life without my family. I had lived a sheltered life, after all, and could not even get the courage to travel to Melbourne on my own!
But then, after I became a journalist, I was forced to travel the world on my own for work. I say “forced” because I’m too sheltered and unadventurous to travel the world on my own.
I visited United States, cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego. I once travelled around the United Kingdom via train, getting the chance to walk the streets where Shakespeare walked in Stratford-upon-Avon, and attended a (not the real band) Beatles show at Liverpool. I visited Manchester, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
And of course, I’ve visited Asia extensively: Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, China at various points in her development and watched in amazement as she developed at astounding speeds.
And then I finally did it – moved to Australia proper, and with a PR to boot! Why I did that is very complicated, but let’s just say a mid-life crisis drove my decision.
But all this only helped me love Malaysia more, despite her flaws. It’s hard to explain, as Malaysia is clearly at a disadvantage, and let’s admit it, suck at many things. But I’m in love with the passion of her people. Watching democracy grow from the watershed year of 2008 to seeing Anwar Ibrahim, the oft-imprisoned opposition leader become the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia? What a time to be alive and I’m glad I played a teeny weeny part by casting my vote to make it all happen.
In a way, it’s weird to love Malaysia. In many ways, Malaysia has shown how much she resents and disdains me by denying me opportunities because of the colour of my skin. She has also shown me that she loves me too through her kind and generous people, who are often warm-hearted and inviting.
When I was in Australia thinking of whether to cling on to or abandon my much-treasured permanent resident status, I remembered thinking: “I don’t want to just exist in comfort. I want to be part of something that grows.”
I was having a comfortable life in Australia, but I felt like a leech, almost. I worked enough and without ambition just to get enough money to enjoy the beaches, the parks and libraries. But what if I returned to Malaysia to help build these beaches, parks and libraries, rather than enjoy what was already being built?
So perhaps I’m a really odd person because I preferred to do the latter.
It’s tough living in Malaysia. But I love it in my way. Perhaps the love is unrequited, but my ancestors have been here for almost two centuries. I might as well accept that this is the land where my blood will spill*.
Cultural notes
The title of this issue refers to the phrase Tanah tumpahnya darahku (Malay for “the land where my blood will spill”). This sentence is part of our national song, Negaraku (My Country)
youtu.be/Kpi8lB4srDU?feature=s…
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#asia #kualaLumpur #Malaysia #Travel #writing
I love the striking red face markings of this Habronattus sansoni.
#spider #jumpingspider #habronattus #arthropod #invertebrate #macro #bcparks #inaturalist #okanagan #similkameen #britishcolumbia #canada
Kerrankin hyvä kolumni Iltiksessä.
iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/6798…
Kolumni: Rasistit ulos
Hallitus on täysin menettänyt uskottavuutensa itse luomansa rasismikriisin ratkaisemisessa. Milloin kokoomus myöntää lopultakin, että perussuomalaisten ottaminen mukaan hallitukseen oli kammottava virhe? kysyy Iltalehden kolumnisti Anne Moilanen.www.iltalehti.fi
Muuten hyvä mut tää meni kyllä metsään:
"Suurin osa suomalaisista ei ole rasisteja. Perussuomalaisten kannattajista, mikä oli elokuussa noin 12 prosenttia suomalaisista, rasisteja on vain osa."
Kyllä ne kaikki on rasisteja, vaikkei sitä itse myöntäiskään.
Hallo Herr Merz, Herr Klingbeil. Wenn man die seit 1997 ausgesetzte #Vermögenssteuer wieder erhebt, mit den vom Verfassungsgericht angemahnten Änderungen, dann ist das keine Steuererhöhung, sondern lediglich die Wiederherstellung der Ausgangslage. Das man fast 30 Jahre auf Steuereinnahmen verzichtet hat ist ein Missstand, den es schnellstmöglich zu beheben gilt. Machen, bitte.
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Gemäss Grundgesetz §106(2) gehen Einnahmen aus der Vermögens- und Erbschaftssteuer an die Bundesländer. Das erklärt vielleicht ein wenig den Mangel an Enthusiasmus auf Bundesebene. Aber 14-25 Milliarden €/Jahr, je nach Ausgestaltung der Vermögenssteuer sollte man nicht einfach ignorieren. Auch wenn man es schon seit fast 30 Jahren tut. Change happens, Herr Merz, Herr Klingbeil!
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"Im Eigentum gerinnt die Ungleichheit der freigesetzten Gesellschaft zur Materie und wird Ausgangspunkt neuer Ungleichheiten. Stellt man dieses unter Sicherung von dessen unbegrenzter Akkumulation sakrosankt, besteht die Gefahr, daß sich die Ungleichheit ungezügelt potenzieren kann und sich darüber die freiheitliche Rechtsordnung selbst aufhebt." Böckenförde, abweichende Meinung im BVerfG-Beschluß vom 22.6.1995 (2 BvL 37/91)
bfh.simons-moll.de/bfh_1995/XX…
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@jwildeboerGestern erst wieder eine Unterhaltung über die Vermögenssteuer gehabt.
Angeblich sei es nicht möglich, die verschiedenen Vermögensarten sauber zu definieren (Barvermögen, Wert von Grundstücken, Immobilien, Kunstgegenständen, Fahrzeugen, Aktien und so, usw.) und dann eine gerechte Berechnung dafür zu finden, und so bla halt.
Bei den Ärmsten hingegen ist es total easy, sie zu schröpfen.
crossgolf_rebel - kostenlose Kwalitätsposts likes this.
Beim Bürgergeld geht es
Beim Kindergeld es
Beim Bafög geht es
Bei der Einkommenssteuer geht es
Nur bei der Vermögenssteuer geht es angeblich nicht.
Es gibt da das probate Mittel der Steuerschätzung. Und das kann ganz schnell dafür sorgen, daß die Betreffenden mal ihr Vermögen zusammenrechnen.
Interessanterweise aber halt schon seit 30 Jahren nicht!
Hat also nicht mal spezifisch was mit einer konkreten Regierungskonstellation zu tun!
Ja, aber warum??
Ist die Finanzlobby da schon so lange aktiv und - offensichtlich - erfolgreich?
Wie kann das sein (vorausgesetzt, es wechelten dabei nicht öfter mal "schwarze Geldkoffer" die Besitzenden)?
Und so haben wir die stärksten #Lobbys für jeden Scheiß!
Help Damian, a trans-masc, bipolar individual flee florida's anti trans legislations and environment and avoid homelessness. He does not have a supportive family to fall back on, and would need our support accordingly to move to a more supportive environment:
Goal: 1842/3500
Link:
gofundme.com/f/help-transmasc-…
Tags: #GTFOmyState #MutualAid #TransMutualAid #TransCrowdFund #Crowdfunding #Fundraiser #Fundraising #Florida #boost
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lelevup! 🍰
in reply to Mars • • •